Newsletter 55

Dear friends,

The title of this newsletter can be interpreted several ways. We’re in the very hot “dog days of summer”. Also, it wouldn’t be summer without the consumption of many hot dogs.

Our “normal” daytime temperature this year is 95 degrees, and factoring in the heat index, it’s well over 100 degrees!!! The Gulf of Mexico is a bath-like 92 degrees.

We’re reminded about the delicate balance of nature, as the toxic algae bloom on the other coast of Florida is causing concern. Fortunately it has not affected the Suncoast area. See the article below for details.

Anyone who has driven in Sarasota will be thrilled to hear about the extensive review of traffic signals that is about to commence. Keeping reading for more on this story.

It’s important to have someone experienced and trustworthy overseeing your home on the Suncoast. As accredited members of the National Home Watch Association (NWHA), our bonded and insured services offer peace of mind to our clients. We take great pride in maintaining and enhancing their homes in paradise. The greatest compliment we can receive is a referral.

Visit our website for more information on our services and how we can help: Suncoast Home Concierge

Here’s some recent Suncoast area news:

44 CONFIRMED ALGAE BLOOMS IN FLORIDA: The green algae-infested waters lapping Florida’s Treasure Coast over the last few weeks have angered residents, disgusted visitors and drawn national media attention. The epicenter of slime remains the waterways branching from the St. Lucie River near Stuart, a rich estuary contaminated by a steady flow of foul, nutrient-laden water from Lake Okeechobee. Now, scientists and the state are keeping an eye on other

potentially vulnerable areas. At the top of the list: the Caloosahatchee River, which serves as the western relief valve for Lake Okeechobee. Please click on the link for more on this story: Algae blooms

VINIK PLANS CENTRAL AIR FOR EVERYONE: Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik wants to have bars, restaurants and dog parks on rooftops with unobstructed views in downtown Tampa. The first steps to achieve that will happen underground. Tampa’s city council is discussing whether to approve an agreement with Strategic Property Partners to lay pipes under downtown roads and begin constructing a chilled water distribution plant. The central cooling plant will be used to air condition dozens of buildings that will come online as part of a $2 million major overhaul of 40 acres in Tampa’s urban core by Vinik, who is building a home on St. Armands Key. Florida has more than 30 cooling plants in operation, including a few in Tampa Bay. Please follow the link to read more: Cooling plants

FINALLY, TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO BE REVIEWED:For the first time ever, Sarasota County will undergo a comprehensive review of how traffic signals are timed across nearly all of the area’s major arteries. More than 170 traffic lights, including almost all signalized intersections in the city of Sarasota, will be part of the review in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation. Re-timing of the signals will involve new data compiled on-season and off-season to develop traffic flow patterns to optimize timing across the county. Please click here for more on this story, courtesy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Traffic signal review

THE RINGLING’S CENTER FOR ASIAN ART: More than 10 years after its conception and almost two years after its chief benefactor and namesake withdrew the collection of Asian art that was to have formed its foundation, The Center for Asian Art in the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Gallery of Asian Art at The Ringling had its official grand opening. After Wall-Apelt’s collection was withdrawn, the museum received a surge of donated pieces from patrons, purchased several important new works, and arranged for long-term loans from the Sacker Gallery in Washington D.C, the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach and the Field Museum in Chicago. But the Chao Gallery focuses on John Ringling’s own antiques collection, which Ringling began purchasing as part of his plan for a museum legacy. There’s more on this story here: Ringling’s window to the east

CITY WILL PERMIT BEER ON BEACHES: If you’ve ever kicked your feet up and cracked open a beer on Lido Key’s beaches, it turns out your relaxing day in the sand actually broke the law. It’s nearly impossible to know that, though, because there aren’t any signs saying as much and there’s very little, if any, enforcement of the city of Sarasota’s alcohol laws there. The Sarasota City Council voted unanimously for a change that brings Lido Key beaches in line with Sarasota County’s open-container rules that permit alcohol, but prohibit glass bottles, on most of the rest of the area’s beaches. Follow the jump for more: Have a beer at Lido

NATIONAL ROWING EVENT TO RETURN IN 2017: After skipping a year, the USRowing Youth National Championships will be held at Nathan Benderson Park next summer, the national organization announced. The USRowing Youth Nationals in 2015 brought in 1,993 participants and 4,991 spectators to the Sarasota-Bradenton area. These off-season travelers resulted in nearly 4,000 hotel room nights booked and an estimated economic impact of more than $6 million for the area. The three-day competition, which is the premier junior rowing event in the United States, will kick off June 9, 2017 at Nathan Benderson Park. There’s more here: Rowing championships return

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