Your local Walmart might look a little different by the end of the year Three Walmarts in the Sarasota-Bradenton area are getting a facelift as part of the company’s “store of the future” campaign. The initiative will remodel 650 stores across 47 states and Puerto Rico, including 34 in Florida These Walmarts in the region will undergo renovations: The remodel involves a new aesthetic look with big According to Walmart's director of local communications and the store won't close during renovations “The new stores will offer Walmart’s every day low prices and save customers time with convenient pickup and delivery options Each new Neighborhood Market will create approximately 100 new jobs and are currently scheduled to open later this year,” Walmart said in a release More: Economic uncertainty following tariffs could change Sarasota, Manatee real estate market Departments will be expanded with more product selections and new layouts to give shoppers (and employees) more room to move around a new private screening room and privacy checkout areas Each store's capacity for online pickups and deliveries will also be increased Walmart has already invested more than $1.6 billion during the past five years to upgrade stores in Florida, the company said. Earlier this year Walmart announced that one of the first locations nationwide to open under the new concept is a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Santa Rosa Beach All stores set for remodeling could start construction and be finished by the end of the year Walmart said it can't guarantee completion dates because the projects are subject to change based on construction schedules and other factors Bradenton and North Port have 11 total Walmarts Find the full list of Florida stores here Contact Herald-Tribune Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com Image: Michael Albanese A new private members club is coming to downtown Sarasota later this year—and it's got some big-time bona fides 1000 North Sarasota will occupy the ground floor of the BLVD Sarasota building at 520 N The Sarasota location is an expansion of the original 1000 North club in Jupiter which was founded by developer Ira Fenton and a slew of sports stars including former New York Giant Tucker Frederickson golf legend Ernie Els and basketball icon Michael Jordan 1000 North's founders have partnered with local developer Kevin Daves known for his work on The Concession Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences Tim Fanning is the club's general manager and Alex Elshimy is its new-member director Image: Courtesy Photo Fanning and Elshimy both have years of hospitality experience Elshimy originally moved to Sarasota to open Seasons 52 at The Mall at University Town Center Both share a passion for creating memorable experiences for diners “Every interaction creates an opportunity for connection and magic,” Elshimy says “It’s about the art of transforming spaces into sanctuaries Their new endeavor will occupy a 13,000-square-foot space Elshimy describes it as having the exclusivity of a private club with the vibrancy of a supper club plus a wine program featuring private lockers and personalized sommelier services “I can already see our guests showing their wines off to each other,” Fanning says “We're going to be able to create some dynamic dining experiences and club experiences.” So how much does joining 1000 North Sarasota cost Elshimy and Fanning won't reveal the club’s membership rates it's been confirmed that access to the lounge at 1000 North's Jupiter location requires a $5,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee—$10,000 in total Image: CJ Walker While the current space is still under construction Fanning talks about it like it's already done Leading a tour through the bare concrete building he points out where a grand piano will rest in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows along North Tamiami Trail which is overlooked by an upstairs mezzanine He even imagines leading members through the 2,000-square-foot kitchen for a sneak peek “Imagine you're like Ray Liotta in Goodfellas coming through the kitchen door,” he says with a chuckle Fanning compares his hospitality mentality to tending a garden all of these components contribute to a bountiful end result,” he says “I’ve been passionate about crafting destinations that are not only sophisticated but also the most talked-about places in their communities,” he says “My skill set is rooted in creating seamless highly tailored member journeys that make every moment feel effortless and unforgettable.” And through their shared obsession with hospitality Fanning and Elshimy have forged a strong professional relationship “I've seen Alex do things out of the ordinary his whole career,” Fanning says calling Fanning “extremely talented and passionate.” “It's almost like we can't dream big enough,” Fanning says 1000 North will be located in the BLVD Sarasota building at 520 N. Tamiami Trail. To learn more, call (941) 777-1000 or click here a premier private club and restaurant opening in late 2025 has appointed Alex Elshimy as Director of Membership Alex brings extensive expertise from his leadership at Global Concept Group the club promises a luxury culinary experience featuring prime steaks 2025 at 4:05 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Local police and the U.S Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force arrested a Sarasota man Monday morning for a shooting earlier this month in North Sarasota was arrested in an isolated shooting that happened Jan 18 in the 4300 block of North Tamiami Trail White is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon He is being held in the Sarasota County Jail without bond Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. NORTH PORT – McDowell Housing Partners completed construction of the first phase of Ekos at Arbor Park, a 136-unit affordable apartment community for residents age 55 and older. The $40 million complex at 1320 Citizens Parkway includes 76 one-bedroom and 60-two bedroom apartments available to people making 20% to 70% of the Area Median Income Rents are anticipated to be between $330 and $1,235 a month for one-bedroom units and $385 and $1,471 for two-bedroom units “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the completion of the first phase of Ekos at Arbor Park It’s an incredibly well appointed and managed community with rent levels that are far lower than anywhere else in North Port and Sarasota County,” Chris Shear Ekos at Arbor Park Phase I is accepting applications at https://www.ekosarborpark.com The Miami-based company first proposed the 55-and-older community in 2020 and received funding in 2021 The complex is just west of The Shoppes at Price Crossing the Publix-anchored shopping center at the intersection of Price and Toledo Blade boulevards Amenities include a clubhouse with a multipurpose social/community room media center and outdoor grills on the lanai overlooking the resort-style pool Forum Architecture and Interior Design served as the architect and MHP-Hennessy Construction a joint venture between MHP Builders and Hennesy Construction Services was the general contractor The apartments range in size from 700 square feet to 946 square feet Each apartment offers kitchens incorporating energy efficient appliances granite countertops with tile back-splashes Residents can also participate in numerous service programs including quarterly financial planning courses Last winter, North Port city leaders cleared the way for construction of 66 affordable apartments and approved changes to the development master plan for Ekos at Arbor Park II on the southeast corner of Price Boulevard and Citizens Parkway The change allows for construction of three three-story buildings and 7,779 square feet of commercial space on about 4.4 acres Shear noted that McDowell Housing Partners is close to securing the property for those homes “We remain dedicated to addressing the housing crisis in Sarasota County as we advance toward the closing of the land adjacent to Phase 1 where Ekos Arbor Park Phase II will be built providing an additional 66 high-quality affordable apartments to families and individuals of all ages,” he  added The community was funded through 4% tax credits purchased by Wells Fargo Freddie Mac permanent senior debt and subordinate loans from Florida Housing Finance Corporation who along with his son Jackson Boone represented McDowell Housing Partners stressed that the new units will benefit residents who earn less than the area median “What we're proposing here is real affordable housing,” Boone said The current proposal calls for 12 units to be available to households that earn up to 30% AMI which would mean $21,150 for an individual and $31,200 for a family of four; 18 units to rent to households that earn up to 60% of AMI; and 36 units would be rented to those earning up to 70% AMI 19 Rowing Heads South For Sarasota 2KMarch 27 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA (WWSB) - “We’re already seeing that in other states where early voting has begun That’s why I’m urging voters to make a plan to vote—and consider voting early this election.” the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections is urging Sarasota to consider the many modes of voting the November 5 General Election will likely have record turnout,” Turner said daily at 10 sites throughout Sarasota County “Early voting is a convenient method of voting,” Turner said “It offers the flexibility of being able to vote at any of the 10 sites while providing the in-person experience that so many voters enjoy.” November 5 General Election Early Voting Locations: Turner also reminds voters that printed sample ballots for the November 5 General Election are in the mail now and available online Atwater Elementary School, 4701 Huntsville Ave.North Port, FL 34288 Booker High school, 3201 N. Orange Ave.Sarasota, FL 34234 Brookside Middle school, 3636 South Shade Ave.Sarasota, FL 34239 Fruitville Elementary School, 601 Honore Ave.Sarasota, FL 34232 Gulf gate Elementary School, 6500 S. Lockwood Ridge RoadSarasota, FL 34231 Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price BlvdNorth Port, FL 34291 North Port High School, 6400 West Price BlvdNorth Port, FL 34291 Philippi Shores Elementary School, 4747 S. Tamiami TrailSarasota, FL 34231 Southside Elementary School, 1901 Webber StreetSarasota, FL 34239 Taylor Ranch Elementary School, 2500 Taylor Ranch TrailVenice, FL 34293 Polk County - 16 locations (3 pet friendly) Polk County shelters open at Noon on Tuesday There’s plenty of space at all of our shelters (ALL PET FRIENDLY): Special Needs Shelter is South Florida State College at 2251 NE Turner Ave #2700 General Population Shelter will be at the Turner Center: 2250 NE Roan St If you or someone you love is electrically dependent, please register for the special needs shelter ASAP at snr.flhealthresponse.com or in person at 2200 NE Roan St (WWSB) - Time is running out to send your mail in ballot The Supervisor of Elections in Sarasota County is recommending you send them back now Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is asking voters not to delay in returning their mail ballots for the November 5 General Election Turner recommends delivering mail ballots in person to any of the three elections offices or the early voting sites “It’s too late to mail your ballot and have confidence it will get to us by 7 p.m “With many of us still dealing with the effects of hurricanes Helene and Milton I am recommending that voters drop off their mail ballots—and do it sooner rather than later.” Secure Ballot Intake Station Vote-by-Mail Ballot Drop Off Locations voters may return their mail ballots to any location listed above between 8:30 a.m and 6:30 p.m.; at the three elections offices until 5 p.m on November 4; and at the three elections offices until 7 p.m Turner adds that returning your mail ballot early provides more time if the elections office needs to contact you because of a missing or mismatched signature on the Voter’s Certificate Palm Beach County’s premier restaurant and private club is excited to announce the opening of its new location in downtown Sarasota 1000 NORTH Sarasota will deliver an exclusive 1000 NORTH Jupiter is expanding its footprint by partnering with Sarasota developer Kevin Daves to bring its unique concept to Sarasota renowned for his work on The Concession Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences in Sarasota will spearhead the development of this exciting having been part of the team that developed Jack Nicklaus’ The Bear’s Club and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa in Jupiter having first met while collaborating on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course with Tony Jacklin at The Concession Golf Club in 2006 Joining Fenton as founding partners of 1000 NORTH were notable names  Exclusive Downtown Members-Only Club Experience Coming in Late 2025 “Kevin and I have been eager to collaborate again since meeting during the development of The Concession Golf Club,” said Fenton we realized that bringing this exceptional dining experience to Sarasota was the perfect project.” 1000 NORTH Sarasota will offer an unparalleled culinary experience and an extensive wine collection in a state-of-the-art wine room stocked with rare and premier vintages “I’m thrilled to collaborate with Ira and his team to create a private dining club unlike anything on Florida’s West Coast but the quality of food and service will remain consistent with the 1000 NORTH brand Our members will also have access to a second-floor wine storage facility making wine a central focus of the experience.” With its elegant dining and an array of five-star amenities 1000 NORTH Sarasota will offer members the ultimate lifestyle in an exclusive environment designed for those who appreciate the finer things in life For more information on membership and updates on the construction process A celebration of modern American regional cuisine 1000 NORTH Sarasota will be located in the BLVD building at 520 North Tamiami Trail InFlorida Site Sponsors The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board on Tuesday approved a $450 million plan to build North Port’s first hospital 100-bed facility is slated for an undeveloped 32-acre parcel Sarasota Memorial Health Care System owns on North Sumter Boulevard near Interstate 75 It will be Sarasota Memorial’s third acute-care hospital and fulfills a longstanding request from the city to have a hospital of its own North Port is the largest city in Sarasota County and one of the fastest growing in the nation the board will review and update plans for another hospital slated for a 28-acre parcel on South Tamiami Trail in Wellen Park The plan approved Tuesday reflects the first phase of development 60,000-square-foot medical office building and backup energy center as well as diagnostic and outpatient services The adjacent office building will house primary and specialty physician practices “Building a hospital in North Port has been part of our strategic plan and goals for many years and I could not be more excited to break ground in 2025 during our centennial year,” Sarasota Memorial Health Care System president and CEO David Verinder said after the board’s vote “It has taken time to build the medical infrastructure necessary to support the city’s first hospital but we feel confident moving forward that we have the commitment and resources to ensure its success.” More than 70 physicians will be recruited for the North Port hospital followed by a groundbreaking ceremony later this year Hospital officials estimate it will take approximately 30 months to complete construction The North Port facility comes less than a year after Sarasota Memorial opened a new patient tower at its Venice hospital that campus opened an updated emergency department that more than doubles capacity for urgent care Sarasota County's new waste collection process begins on Monday, March 31, and residents can see what their new garbage collection day is using an online map Those who live in the cities of North Port but the county map provides links for those residents to find more information on their garbage collection March 28 was the last collection day with Waste Management The two new providers will split services across two districts of unincorporated Sarasota County an area north of State Road 72 and east of Midnight Pass Road FCC Environmental will cover the South District which encompasses coastal areas and eastern Sarasota County recycling and yard waste will continue to be collected on one day," a county fact sheet said Continue using your blue recycling cart and follow current disposal guidelines." There is also no change to yard waste collection guidelines with three sizes to choose from: 95-gallon With the new automated collection all garbage must fit inside the new cart Items left outside the cart will no longer Those who want more information on new garbage collection services, or to check their new collection date, can visit https://www.scgov.net/government/solid-waste Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Email him at ccasale@gannett.com or christiancasale@protonmail.com While recognizing the attendance of North Port Development Services Director Alaina Ray at the meeting “It’s not every day that somebody drops a check for $450 million in your office; I think it’s important that you came to receive it.” The 8-0 vote of approval – with board member Bridgette Fiorucci absent because of scheduling conflict – followed a unanimous recommendation made earlier Tuesday by the hospital board’s Mission and Planning Committee Sarasota Memorial Health Care System President & CEO David Verinder said and I could not be more excited to break ground in 2025 during our centennial year,” in a prepared statement released shortly after the vote but we feel confident moving forward that we have the commitment and resources to ensure its success,” he added SMH has been working with city staff and other regulatory agencies on parallel tracks to obtain initial approvals for both this 32-acre campus and a 28-acre tract the hospital owns at the intersection of West Villages Parkway and Tamiami Trail in Wellen Park SMH has long targeted a free-standing emergency room at the Wellen Park site with an eye toward developing a second hospital there This summer at its strategic planning session the hospital board will look at its plan for the Wellen Park expansion as well as the facility it opened in 2009 that houses both physicians offices and  a free-standing emergency room Meanwhile, Hospital Corporation of America Florida Englewood Hospital is anticipating opening an 11,300-square-foot freestanding emergency department on a 30-acre campus in Wellen Park as soon as March That HCA campus may someday expand into an acute care hospital as well Renderings are not yet available but the initial structures will be a hurricane-hardened 60,000-square-foot medical office building and back-up energy center The first floor of the hospital will include emergency administrative and support services; with surgical and procedure areas on the second floor The 100 private patient rooms will be on the third through fifth floors while the sixth floor will house the hospital’s mechanical infrastructure That 100-bed hospital could eventually be expanded to 208 beds SMH has already received approval from the city to build a 150-foot-tall facility at both the Sumter and Wellen Park campuses since the current plan is for the designs to be identical SMH would have to hire an additional 74 physicians When the new SMH-North Port opens in the fall of 2028 it will not be the first hospital in North Port That distinction goes to the 144-bed Acadia Healthcare North Port Behavioral Health. City officials helped cut the ribbon on that private behavioral health hospital on Jan The facility is estimated to employ 92 people with an average salary of approximately $67,000 North Port Behavioral Health will treat patients with depression The hospital is also collaborating with the city of North Port to provide 24/7 crisis counseling PTSD training and resources for first responders as North Port City Manager Jerome Fletcher noted in a  prepared statement the decision to build its first hospital in the city at Sumter Boulevard is “a landmark step for North Port.” the quality health care so many North Port residents have desired for years is finally on its way to our community along with new career opportunities for our workforce,” he added “The city is committed to working with SMH through the development process to bring this project to life.” For future updates on the new hospital and health care facilities in North Port, visit: smh.com/NorthPortUpdates The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board has approved a $450 million plan to build North Port’s first hospital 100-bed hospital on North Sumter Boulevard will be built on an undeveloped 32-acre parcel that Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) owns The North Port campus will be the health system’s third acute-care hospital fulfilling a long-standing request from the City of North Port for a hospital of its own “Building a hospital in North Port has been part of our strategic plan and goals for many years,” SMH president and CEO David Verinder said after Tuesday’s hospital board vote Hospital staff worked with North Port and other regulatory officials throughout 2024 to obtain the initial approvals needed to begin developing a medical campus on the Sumter Boulevard site The plan approved this week reflects the first phase of development 305,000-square-foot hospital; 60,000-square-foot medical office building; and back-up energy center The hospital will offer comprehensive emergency a full complement of diagnostic and outpatient services and primary and specialty physician practices in the adjacent medical office building The second floor will house surgical and procedural areas and floors three to five will be dedicated to the 100 private patient care units The sixth will be used for mechanical space and to provide infrastructure that will ultimately allow SMH to add three more patient care floors and expand the hospital capacity to 208 beds SMH leaders expect it will take approximately 30 months to complete construction; the hospital is currently slated to open in the fall of 2028 “This is a landmark step for North Port,” North Port city manager Jerome Fletcher said after the hospital board vote “The quality health care so many North Port residents have desired for years is finally on its way to our community along with new career opportunities for our workforce The city is committed to working with SMH through the development process to bring this project to life.” the hospital board will also review and update plans for its Wellen Park campus and its existing freestanding emergency room and healthcare center on Toledo Blade Boulevard For future updates on the new hospital and health care facilities in North Port, click here The Sarasota-Brandenton area will escape the lowest of the brisk temperatures brought by the latest cold snap this week according to a forecast from the National Weather Service will reach lows in the low 40s and high 30s Tuesday night More: Lakewood Ranch Southeast expansion in east Sarasota County gets OK from planning board The Sarasota area’s temperature in the low 70s Monday was forecast to plummet Tuesday with the incoming cold front with a minimum temperature of 43 degrees predicted for Tuesday morning in the forecast the bulk of the front will impact areas of north of Sarasota with neighboring Hillsborough and Polk Counties predicted to reach as low as 36 degrees The chilly temperatures will linger with a possible low of 38 degrees in Sarasota County Wednesday morning Things will warm up Thursday and Friday before sinking again Saturday and Sunday with predicted lows in the mid-to-high 40s at night What is the 10-day forecast for the Sarasota Bradenton area?The 10-day forecast for the area Contact Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com A restaurant and private club concept from Palm Beach County featuring celebrity cofounders plans to soon expand to Sarasota The members-only 1000 North plans to open in late 2025 in downtown's Sarasota BLVD condominium building at 520 N. Tamiami Trail, according to a press release. The original 1000 North opened in Jupiter in 2018 with founding partners including basketball legend Michael Jordan former New York Giant Tucker Frederickson and Wine Spectator magazine publisher Marvin Shanken The team bringing 1000 North to Sarasota will include developer Kevin Daves who previously worked on The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences in Sarasota Daves has had a long history with another one of 1000 North's partners since first meeting while collaborating on the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course with golfer Tony Jacklin at The Concession Golf Club in 2006 3 popular area waterfront restaurants hope to reopen 'before the holiday season' Sarasota area waterfront restaurant, named one of best in U.S., sets reopening date Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday “Kevin and I have been eager to collaborate again since meeting during the development of The Concession Golf Club," Fenton said in a statement we realized that bringing this exceptional dining experience to Sarasota was the perfect project." “I’m thrilled to collaborate with Ira and his team to create a private dining club unlike anything on Florida’s West Coast," Daves added in a statement but the quality of food and service will remain consistent with the 1000 North brand a selection of beers and an extensive wine collection in a wine room stocked with rare and premier vintages For more information on 1000 North Sarasota membership and updates on the construction process, visit 1000northsarasota.com Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing Sarasota Memorial Health Care System on Monday opened a new emergency care center in Lakewood Ranch It is Sarasota Memorial’s fourth emergency care center and the second freestanding emergency facility not attached to a hospital campus RELATED: Sarasota Memorial Hospital opens expanded ER in Venice 15,000-square-foot freestanding ER facility will help serve residents of north Sarasota County and south Manatee County proximity and immediate access to high-quality emergency care is critical,” said Dr medical director of Sarasota Memorial’s emergency care services “By opening freestanding ERs and placing them in densely populated areas many more people can receive emergency care in their own neighborhoods This is not just more convenient for patients It also strengthens clinical outcomes and reduces congestion and wait-times at hospital-based ERs.” The Lakewood Ranch facility will be staffed round-the-clock with a board-certified emergency physicians respiratory therapists and other clinicians and CT and MRI scanners for more advanced imaging studies The on-site diagnostic services are available for community members It is also available for outpatient labwork or imaging scans ordered by care providers The facility is at 7250 University Parkway about 3 miles east of Interstate 75 near Lorraine Road Barricades christening the “future home of Mighty Banyans baseball” now surround a plot at the corner of University Parkway and U.S a former Sarasota Bradenton International Airport employee is still ringing the alarm on the facility’s location The land deal was all but signed and sealed before the FAA struck it down last April noting that the airport would benefit more from retaining the land than from the college’s proposed lump sum “The FAA does not believe the proposal demonstrates a benefit to civil aviation or the national airspace system other than providing for some operational income,” the FAA’s rejection letter said “The FAA does not find New College to be a compatible land use with SRQ.” More New College: DeSantis reappoints two New College trustees on anniversary of conservative board overhaul director of properties for the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority from 2005 to 2018 He’s has been a steady opponent of construction of the field on airport land maintaining that a baseball field wouldn’t serve the airport's interests If the college and the airport had remained steady as they did for much of Schussler’s tenure Schussler said the land use wouldn’t be an issue Schussler said the airport should use every inch of its roughly 1,100 acres to maximize the growth it continually courts the push between the two entities in rapid expansion mode,” Schussler said “You cap the long-term usefulness of the Sarasota Bradenton airport by selling some land close to the terminal.” Schussler cares little for where and how New College builds its baseball field but he feels it shouldn’t be the airport’s problem and New College is the tail,” Schussler said Long-term lease between SRQ and New College proves complicatedThe situation is made stickier by New College’s long agreement with the airport A 99-year lease signed in 1957 puts the land in New College’s hands until 2056 but both parties are nonetheless locked in the agreement would yield more than $55,000 in revenue more than the lease agreement would by 2056 funds that would aid in the airport’s long-term growth more than use of the land would “The proceeds of the sale to the College will also enable the SMAA (Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority) to fund much needed new infrastructure,” the staff report said referring to the authority that governs the airport the woefully inadequate market revenue realized from the present Lease otherwise would run another 32 plus years.” More: Sarasota City Commission delays voting on new sound ordinance, asking for revisions SRQ President Rick Piccolo said the future baseball facility poses no threat to the airport and its growth A New College softball field and outdoor volleyball pit already occupy airport land a situation Piccolo said hasn’t posed problems in the 30 years he’s been with the airport And the airport’s long-term master plan doesn’t project construction in the airport’s southwest corner where the baseball field will be built I’d be the first to defend it,” Piccolo said and the land is now cleared of the buildings that used to occupy it The average baseball field stretches across 4.5 acres according to a guide from sports fencing and netting contractor Grand Slam Safety More: Sarasota's Joe Gruters elected RNC treasurer behind Trump endorsement An exact timeline on facility construction is also unclear though the barricades around the site are the latest in a series of recent steps New College has taken The college announced it will name the field the Beruff Family Field of Dreams after a $1 million donation from local developer Carlos Beruff in December and it said an official construction plan will follow later this month Beruff has no outstanding ties to New College but he serves on the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Opponents like Schussler have suggested the land swap deal and was politically motivated with members of the airport authority placing their support behind the Gov Ron Desantis-backed New College transformation however maintains that members of the airport authority New College’s administration and the state government weren’t in talks outside of official proceedings and that the deal was made in good faith and I think this is a prime example of ‘no good deed goes unpunished,’” Piccolo said “We thought this was a good deal for everybody.” Contact Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com a humble gem hugging the Intracoastal Waterway in the historic commercial fishing village of Cortez Opened in 1955 Annie's was where boaters and fishermen stopped for fuel and bait — but it was the food served at its cozy tables now it's gone — another victim of hurricanes Milton and Helene Best waterfront restaurants 10 favorites I love to recommend in Sarasota-Manatee Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news, reviews, and fun things to do every Friday Annie’s Bait & Tackle owner Bruce Shearer and his family pushed to rebuild but he dismissed Manatee County’s proposals as “losing efforts.” County officials presented options at a public meeting including a two-year rebuild to meet flood standards or a temporary setup costing up to $250,000 with food trailers and limited services arguing he could repair his shop for around $100,000 and that the county’s plan wouldn’t support a viable business "That business is like 'Cheers' on TV — it's where people got together and had birthday parties and all that stuff — that won't happen in your proposal," Shearer said Longtime local resident Shearer bought Annie's Bait & Tackle with Shearer explaining to me in 2021 that the Cipriani family who would later sell their nearby C&C Marine with construction of this building taking place in the early to mid-’50s I’m guessing,” Shearer said from behind the counter at Annie’s on a Friday afternoon in February four years ago “There were snacks and then those square sandwiches from a vending machine in the 1970s.” the Herald-Tribune’s former outdoors correspondent “My first recollection of the proprietors was a salty old character by the name of Taylor,” Zacharias wrote of Annie’s Bait & Tackle in 2014 “He purveyed live shrimp primarily and also stocked rudimentary tackle items Annie was a real breath of fresh air and the name has stuck despite a string of operators since.” As for the waterfront property on which Annie’s sat the Cipriani family sold it to the Berry family was known for operating “the Miss Cortez Party boats.” They eventually sold the property to Hamlin Jones who also owned the Seafood Shack next door Shearer said he made a million-dollar offer to Jones for the Annie’s property Jones declined and sold the entire waterfront lot to the Canadian developer Vandyk Group in 2014 Aside from the dock being washed out in 2012 by Tropical Storm Debby Annie’s Bait & Tackle required only minor repairs for decades with the exterior and interior looking much the same as it did in the 1950s — or at least the ’70s when Shearer recalled first setting foot in the place “We’ve been so damn lucky,” Shearer told me in 2021 “I hope to hold onto it for at least a few more years Manatee County purchased the property that includes the Seafood Shack restaurant and marina County commissioners now plan to build a public boat ramp there called Cortez Marina designed to expand access to local waterways with boat ramps and other potential amenities on the property located at the base of the Cortez Bridge right across the Intracoastal Waterway from Anna Maria Island and Bradenton Beach While many local residents support the project they have also voiced a clear desire for it to include Annie’s Bait & Tackle Annie's 'has been a staple of this community since the doctor at Manatee Memorial Hospital patted me on my little rear end'Annie's "has been a staple of this community since the doctor at Manatee Memorial Hospital patted me on my little rear end," Manatee County community activist Andrea Griffin said during the early March meeting "It is the tackle shop that I got my first shrimp from to go fishing and I know that those things are important to people in this community." "I hope that each and every one of you guys take your time before you say 'no' and look at all the good that this tackle shop has done," she said "I'm 45 years old — 45 — and there's nothing but good memories from that place." I also have nothing but fond memories of Annie's Bottles of beer with fried grouper sandwiches or burgers — always with an order of thin-cut salty fries — sitting with the water right at your feet and several of our dogs on the back patio over the years it was similar to "Cheers" — if the sitcom took place in a small Southern fishing village rather than a big city in the Northeast I'll sure miss Annie's and wish the best for the Shearer family moving forward Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com (WWSB) - Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is reminding voters that in-person early voting for the August 20 Primary Election begins Saturday “In-person early voting is one of the three ways to vote in Florida and offers convenient days and times for those who prefer to cast their vote in person before election day,” Turner said offering the convenience and flexibility of vote-by-mail with the in-person tradition of election day voting.” daily at six early voting sites listed below Although many parts of Sarasota County experienced heavy flooding from Hurricane Debby all six sites are ready for the start of in-person early voting my team did a full inspection of our early voting sites,” Turner said “The parking lot of the Fruitville Library experienced heavy flooding but the library itself was otherwise unaffected the water in the library’s parking lot has receded and the site is ready to go.” Voters may cast their ballots at any one of the six early voting sites and must present valid photo and signature identification at the polls “Florida is a closed primary state which means only voters who are registered members of a political party may vote in that party’s primary election,” Turner said there’s something for every voter in this election including nonpartisan school board races.” Turner also noted that the August 20 Primary Election sample ballot is available online. Voters can review their sample ballot by visiting SarasotaVotes.gov and clicking on the Sample Ballot icon For more information, visit SarasotaVotes.gov or call 941-861-8619 2025 at 8:43 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}All lanes have reopened on Interstate 75 in southern Sarasota County after a Thursday morning vehicle fire (Courtesy of North Port Police Department)Updated: 8:42 a.m. FL — All southbound lanes have reopened after a Thursday morning vehicle fire on Interstate 75 in southern Sarasota County North Port police wrote in a Facebook post The vehicle fire happened at mile marker 175 Andrea Torres SARASOTA – Hurricane Milton was only hours away from landfall Wednesday in Florida’s Gulf Coast and there were already reports of tornadoes There was flooding when Sarasota officials asked residents to shelter in place In a public announcement, Sarasota County Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Darin Wallentine said first responders also have to shelter in place so this will delay their response to 911 calls “As soon as the conditions warrant and it’s safe for our crews to get back out on the road we will be responding to all of those 911 calls,” Wallentine said Sarasota could experience storm surge from 10 to 15 feet. According to the National Weather Service a flash flood warning was in effect Wednesday afternoon in northwestern Sarasota County including the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park WATCH VIDEO: Tornado spotted near Alligator Alley Water service to the barrier islands in Sarasota, a city south of Tampa The county closed access to barrier islands The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported very few gas stations remained open and there were long lines at the ones with working gas pumps. County officials encouraged evacuations. “We do not want you staying in your home if you are anywhere near a body of water,” said Sandra Tapfumaneyi Sarasota Memorial Hospital suspended visitations at the Sarasota and Venice campuses and canceled elective surgeries The SMH North Port Emergency Room plans to remain open to evacuate and head to the shelter at Heron Creek Middle School REPORT ON TUESDAY: Sarasota County residents prepare for hurricane the shelter was at Taylor Ranch Elementary Five schools in the city of Sarasota turned into shelters: Booker High at 3636 South Shade Ave.; Gulf Gate Elementary Lockwood Ridge Road; Philippi Shores Elementary For information about free transportation to the shelter Torres contributed to this report from Miami Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Jenise Fernandez joined the Local 10 News team in November 2014 She is thrilled to be back home reporting for the station she grew up watching who is from Miami and graduated from Florida International University also interned at Local 10 while she was in college The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013 She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Closed Captioning / Audio Description Contact Us Careers at WPLG Terms of Use Privacy Policy Public File FCC Applications EEO Report Do Not Sell My Info 1.0 Host Exhibit Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC. As residents across Florida recover from the devastating impact of back-to-back hurricanes the Office of the Governor issued an Executive Order to address difficulties caused by infrastructure damage power outages and poll worker availabilities This includes flexibility on regulations regarding poll worker training and hiring poll locations and vote-by-mail ballot deadline extensions "I am happy to report that our early voting plans have remained intact even after two hurricanes," Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer said in a release "I am especially encouraging voters who may be displaced or dealing with storm-related issues to take advantage of the convenience of early voting in our county." Plan to bring at least two forms of current identification that include your signature and photo in case either one is ineligible but you CANNOT use it to take a selfie of you and your ballot You also cannot bring your firearm into a polling center Florida is one of at least eight states that explicitly bans openly carried or concealed firearms at the polls Florida also prohibits any political campaign materials or electioneering within 150 feet of polling places Please see a county-by-county list of early voting dates and times below and check the Supervisors of Elections website links for specific questions for your county Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website Pasco County Supervisor of Elections website Hernando County Supervisor of Elections website Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections website Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website Polk County Supervisor of Elections website Citrus County Supervisor of Elections website — Sarasota County and North Port are opening free sandbag locations as heavy rains continue to be forecast for the area Deanna Baker was among the Sarasota residents filling up sandbags with her son "We actually live right down the road in Saddle Creek the whole back half of our sub was flooded and we actually have horses back there because we’re the last of the equestrian communities around here with acreage and Ian was the winds — but this was the rainfall," Baker said “We’ve never seen that kind of rainfall in this area.” you kind of take care of yourself and you take care of your neighbors and we have a great support system and will come out and help everybody and anybody that we can," Baker said Sarasota County sandbag location will be open Thursday Bags and sand will be provided while supplies last Individuals are asked to bring their own shovels There is a limit of 10 sandbags per vehicle The City of North Port opened a self-serve sandbag location at 3 p.m Bags and sand will be available while supplies last Report a typo The City of Sarasota on Monday declared a local state of emergency which is a procedural step to allow emergency funding for any necessary repairs Officials in North Port and in Fort Myers Beach met Monday morning to also declare local states of emergency Sarasota City Manager Marlon Brown approved the declaration in consultation and coordination with Sarasota County officials Emergency Manager Todd Kerkering and Mayor Liz Alpert follow the City of Sarasota social media channels and monitor local news and weather reports Officials in the Town of Fort Myers Beach held an Emergency Town Council Meeting at 9 a.m North Port officials did likewise at their commission meeting city offices closed Monday included Warm Mineral Springs Park George Mullen Activity Center and the Morgan Family Community Center yard waste and bulk pickups will continue as scheduled for City of North Port customers Tonight's North Port United Tour meeting at American Legion Post 254 has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date residential curbside collection of garbage and yard trimmings on Palm Island is temporarily unavailable until further notice due to the closure of the ferry boat Waste Management is unable to access the island at this time Roads currently closed due to flooding are Wood Street between Marion Avenue and Olympia Avenue and Berry and McGregor Streets between Retta Esplanade and Marion Avenue The Sunseeker boardwalk is closed due to high winds and water call the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center from 8 a.m all City Beach Parking areas remain closed due to high water levels and residual flooding in parking lots Information on re-openings will be announced as they become available Major roadways in the City are clear and traffic is moving as expected The following roads still are experiencing some flooding and standing water Drivers are reminded to use caution and avoid driving through flooded streets Debris generated from storm damage appears to be minimal Residents should not place any storm debris on the City right-of-way for collection and instead should place debris at the curbside for standard garbage and horticulture collection All City of Sanibel offices are currently open and operating on a regular schedule 2025 at 6:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}An excavator came off a trailer shutting down an area of North Tamiami Trail on Friday evening (Courtesy of Sarasota Police Department)SARASOTA FL — An excavator came off a trailer shutting down a section of North Tamiami Trail Friday evening Sarasota police wrote in a Facebook post around 5:40 p.m The crash happened south of University Parkway Traffic is being diverted at Remington Drive This post will be updated when more information is available and the road has reopened Tide Tables is a popular waterfront dining destination known for its fresh seafood dishes located on the west end of the historic commercial fishing village of Cortez that hugs the north end of Sarasota Bay The restaurant features indoor and mostly outdoor seating as well as a beer and wine tiki bar and marina overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and Anna Maria Island Tide Tables began welcoming guests back for its regular hours of 11:30 a.m Tide Tables waterfront restaurant in Cortez fishing village reopens after Hurricane Milton and Helene closuresThe damage to Tide Tables caused by Hurricane Helene included a boat slamming into one of its docks and the replacement of its entire tiki bar overlooking the water Tide Tables was feeding its neighbors from Cortez Park the ages-55-and-older mobile home community located next door They reopened for a full day of business on Saturday (Oct 5) before announcing they would be closing again on Sunday (Oct offering delightful daily specials such as grouper bisque and Thai chili grouper bites (two of my personal favorites) as well as a blackened mahi BLT and lobster ravioli special I must try Tide Tables makes their own irresistible desserts they were tempting guests with a chocolate crème brûlée "We are so ready to see everyone," Tide Tables posted to social media is owned by husband-and-wife team Bobby and Gwen Woodson Star Fish Company, which was named one of the best restaurants in the country earlier this year by USA TODAY has remained temporarily closed following significant storm surge damage that didn’t stop them from providing free pulled pork sandwiches with chips to those impacted by Hurricane Helene the iconic restaurant and market has set up a supply tent for its neighbors after Hurricane Milton "Star Fish is still closed after Hurricane Helene and Milton," the restaurant posted to social media on Sunday "We are cleaning up and going to open as soon as we can there will be a supplies tent set up for people in the community in need of water Hours: Monday 12-4 and Tuesday-Friday 10-4." Star Fish posted photos of numerous supplies it had been shared 105 times with hundreds of likes Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina is at 12507 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. For more information, call 941-567-6206 or visit tidetablescortez.com Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram General elections in deep red Sarasota and Manatee counties are typically much less competitive than the primaries the November election is always the belle of the ball as far as attention and voter turnout At the top of the 2024 general election ballot is the presidential contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump Rick Scott is also running his first reelection campaign since he edged out Bill Nelson to win in 2018 Scott has a history of winning state-wide elections by tight margins since defeating Alex Sink to become governor in 2010 he faces former Democratic congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell There will also be six ballot amendments for Florida voters to decide on – which must receive 60% of the vote to be added to the state constitution Amendment 1 would reshape district school board races into partisan elections The Sarasota GOP supports it and the Sarasota Democratic Party opposes it Amendment 2 would establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish in Florida Amendment 3 would allow Floridians age 21 and older to “to possess or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories” for recreational use – with some possession limits It is supported by the Sarasota Democratic Party and opposed by the Sarasota GOP Amendment 4 would guarantee legal access to abortion before fetal viability in Florida Amendment 5 is an annual adjustment to homestead exemptions based on inflation Amendment 6 would repeal public campaign financing The deadline for Florida voters to register for the general election is Oct. 7. Registered voters need a current photo identification with a valid signature to vote “If your photo ID does not contain your signature an additional ID with your signature is required,” according to the Supervisor of Elections website The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. on Oct. 24. Mail ballots can be dropped off at any of the three Supervisor of Elections offices in Sarasota Hours will be extended during early voting Request a vote-by-mail ballot: Sarasota County Request a vote-by-mail ballot: Manatee County The in-person early voting period runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Oct. 21 through Nov. 3. There are 10 early voting locations in Sarasota County which includes the elections offices and major libraries Election day polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voters can check their assigned election day precinct on the Supervisor of Elections’ website Here is a look at the major races in Sarasota County: One of Trump’s most vocal allies in the House Steube has never received less than 62% of a vote share since he first ran for Congress Lopez's campaign highlights familiar themes for the Democrats in 2024: Abortion rights protection of Social Security and Medicare and economic development focused on the middle class is a former Florida state representative and state senator He regularly appears on TV advocating for Trump pro-second amendment platform and takes a hard-right stance on illegal immigration In a rematch of the 2022 election, Rep. Fiona McFarland will again face Sarasota High School social studies teacher Derek Reich McFarland is a former Navy veteran who consulted with McKinsey and Company She is the chair of the Transportation & Modals Subcommittee in the Florida House who lost a Charter Review Board election to Alexandra Coe in 2022 Danny Nix is vying to replace House Majority Leader Michael Grant as the next Republican up He was appointed by DeSantis to the Florida Southwestern State College Board of Trustees in 2019 and is the President of the Realtors of Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port-DeSoto His Democrat trying to play spoiler in the traditionally red district is Tony Dunbar a former financial attorney and environmental activist District 75 encompasses Englewood and northern Charlotte County Tom Knight’s decisive victory in the GOP primary against appointed incumbent Neil Rainford put the former Sarasota County sheriff in the driver’s seat to represent southern Sarasota County on the commission The contentious head-to-head battle between Knight and Rainford saw the most funds raised between two candidates in the entire county a local activist who has focused her campaign on what she characterizes as negligent overdevelopment in the county Although Knight ran as more moderate than Rainford on development and cultural issues Thornton is more outspoken about the county's pro-growth stance She’s been officially endorsed by the Sarasota Democratic Party although she is listed on the ballot as an independent though he received significant funding from one of the county's largest developers Thornton’s campaign centers on over development She estimated at the panel that 80% of voters she has spoken to are concerned about development Barbara Ford-Coates has resisted Sarasota’s strong red tide to be the only countywide elected Democrat for decades. However, the longtime tax collector’s bid for an 11th term may be her toughest yet as she faces two-term County Commissioner Mike Moran Moran cruised to win the GOP primary election against Charles Bear Moran accused Ford-Coates of "over taxation" and "ripping off Sarasota County taxpayers,” claiming $17.7 million of excess fees in 2023 saying her office followed state law regarding the collections County tax collectors' offices do not themselves levy taxes but are required to collect the taxes and fees of local governments and state agencies Ford-Coates was awarded the Legacy Award for Continued Excellence in Financial Operations by the Florida Tax Collectors Association she was named a Public Sector Champion for Excellence in Office Leadership by Thomson Reuters Sarasota City Commissioner Kyle Battie is running for his first reelection since his 2020 victory over Willie Shaw. However, Shaw and former Sarasota Mayor Fredd Atkins have backed Sequoia Felton to replace the commissioner who has served on the city’s Human Relations Board He worked in broadcasting and as a model before his election to the commission The two candidates met at a Tiger Bay forum in July where Battie defended developer incentives as a way to promote affordable housing; he said the issue would be at the top of his agenda during a second term Felton said she is running because she feels development in Sarasota has not been environmentally sustainable She also emphasized affordable housing and greater pedestrian access Battie and Felton advanced to a November runoff after August’s primary election Battie beat Felton by 89 votes out of 2,261 cast in the primary District 1 covers much of North Sarasota – Bayou Oaks, Gillespie, and most of the Rosemary District. It also contains Newtown home to Sarasota’s only significant Black voting bloc a former software executive and mainstay during the commission's public comment periods Like many local challenger candidates, Kashden is focused on what he sees as an irresponsible green light from city hall for developers and their interests Alpert has said her two biggest priorities would be affordable housing and growth Commissioner Erik Arroyo is also seeking his first reelection since he joined the commission in 2020 a former chair of the city’s Planning Board and Citizens with Disabilities advisory board A former mayor and the only Republican on the City Commission, Arroyo is a corporate and estate planning attorney and a partner at the Arroyo | McArdle law firm. The commissioner said in a statement earlier this year his focus during a second term would be "safeguarding our natural resources ensuring responsible and sustainable development and addressing the urgent issue of rising property insurance costs." Ohlrich has been a vocal local activist against over development in Sarasota She also ran Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch's previous commission campaign Arroyo has been endorsed by the Sarasota GOP and Ohlrich is backed by the local Democratic Party District 3 is mainly composed of eastern Sarasota Mayor Alice White, a North Port resident of 33 years, faces a challenge from political newcomer Demetrius Petrow Petrow is endorsed by the Sarasota GOP and White has been endorsed by the Sarasota Democratic Party a local business owner and political newcomer Langdon bested Smith by about seven points in the August primary as both advanced to the runoff The incumbent has been endorsed by both local Democrats and Republicans Andrew Sias and David Duval are competing to replace the term-limited Commissioner Debbie McDowell He has previously served as chairman of the North Port Charter Review Board He recruited his friend Sias to also briefly on the board while the local Democrats declined to make a recommendation Kevin Engelke and Patricia Ouellette are both transplants: Engelke is an insurance executive who moved to Venice full-time from New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic and Ouellette is an estate attorney from Michigan Engelke and Ouellette face off after incumbent Helen Moore declined to run for a third term Ouellette is backed by the local Democrats while Engelke has been endorsed by Sarasota GOP He’s being challenged by Joan Iacono Iacono previously told the Herald-Tribune she’s concerned about overdevelopment and a lack of concern from city hall about its constituents The Sarasota Democratic Party endorsed Iacono A referendum in November will allow Venice voters to decide whether to get rid of odd-year city elections Council members would serve a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms The change would bring Venice’s elections in line with other local municipalities The local Republican Party supports the referendum To call the other general election candidate “token opposition” for Mast would be generous has raised zero dollars and is the 20-year-old daughter of Traci Williams the volunteer coordinator for Mast's campaign District 5 County Commissioner Ron Cutsinger is also opposed for another four-year term Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @vanityhack  A survey from a private company that offers online consumer news and customer reviews found that rent in the North Port Bradenton metro area rose by 54.8% over the past four years – the second largest spike of any major U.S ConsumerAffairs considered data for the entire MSA, or metropolitan statistical area, which is identified as North Port, since it’s the largest municipality in the two-county region. The survey included the 70 largest MSAs in the country but because of data discrepancies left out five New England metropolitan regions: Boston and Worcester Massachusetts; Hartford and New Haven RENTS: How much do apartments cost in the Sarasota-Bradenton area? We crunched the numbers the ConsumerAffairs survey revealed that almost two-thirds of renters spent more than 30% of their monthly income on rent rents increased from a median cost of $1,559 to $2,413 which was larger than the 54.4% increase for the same period in Miami and a 51.3% increase in Tampa which currently logs the median rent in the area at $2,871 for all property types with an area median income of $64,000 annually Other survey findings from around the country include: wages increased 20.7% but rents increased 30.5% The complete data can be found at https://www.consumeraffairs.com/moving/state-of-rent-prices-in-america.html None of these findings are news to local government officials and those involved in improving the number of affordable apartments. A 2023 update of a report on Asset Limited Employed families in the region that was released by the United Way of the Suncoast showed that through 2021 the number of total households living paycheck to paycheck grew to 615,627 in the five-county region the Sarasota Housing Authority hosted a grand opening of Cypress Square an 84-unit complex that includes 18 one-bedroom and six four-bedroom apartments available to those earning 30% to 80% of the Area Median Income On Wednesday, the commission will award $40 million of the $201.5 million post-Hurricane Ian federal block grant program known as Resilient SRQ for affordable multifamily housing complexes