Historic Preservation - New Markers    Traveling along Osprey Ave. in the South Poinsettia Park neighborhood, you may notice two new historical markers designating the former site of the Westmore Tenant House & Smith/Freeman Home.  Constructed in the 1920s at 1913 Datura Street, the house was given a local historical designation in 1995 for its architecture as a Spanish Eclectic Style Bungalow, built by the reputable Logan and Currin Construction Company.

Historic markers at Osprey Ave./Hibiscus, and Osprey Ave./Hyde Park indicate that the Westmore Tenant House & Smith/Freeman Home once stood on nearby.

Last August, a new property owner asked the Historic Preservation Board for permission to raze the structure.  That request was granted with a condition:  a historical marker must be erected to memorialize the history of the house and its builder.  The developer, Larry Starr, offered to put up two signs:  one at Osprey Ave. and Hyde Park St. and the other at Osprey and Hibiscus St., with the thought being that two would provide greater visibility for the neighborhood.

We appreciate Mr. Starr going above and beyond the Historic Preservation Board's requirement to remember our local history. 

Officer Warren Jones - Honorary Street Dedication    Within the next month, signs will be erected on Adams Lane providing an honorary street dedication in memory of SPD Officer Warren Jones. 

SPD Acting Deputy Chief Pat Robinson, Sgt. Lori Jaress and Deputy City Engineer Daniel Ohrenstein addressing the City Commission Monday night.

 

Officer Jones was shot and killed in the line of duty on April 5, 1975 as he approached two men siphoning gasoline on Mango Ave.  He was just 25 years old and a member of the SPD family for two years.  With plans to be married the following month, Officer Jones had traded shifts with a fellow officer that fateful night so he could accrue more time off to celebrate his wedding.  The suspected gunman subsequently killed himself in Ft. Myers before he could be arrested.

Monday night, the City Commission approved the placement of two honorary street signs on Adams Lane, between Links Ave. and East Ave., adjacent to the SPD Headquarters.  The dedication will be a visible and thoughtful reminder of Warren Jones.

A big thank you to Sgt. Lori Jaress for taking the initiative to ensure Officers Jones' life and service is honored in this special way.   And, thanks to the Southwest Florida Police Benevolence Association for funding the costs involved with the project.

We hope to unveil the signs within the next few weeks in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Officer Jones' death in the line of duty.

Entrepreneurs - CEO Intro to Business Development Course    Are you, or someone you know, interested in launching or expanding a business?  To succeed, it's important to be knowledgeable about how to operate and market a business.

Partnered with CareerSource Suncoast and the City of Sarasota, once again, Comerica Bank and the SunTrust Foundation are sponsoring the Community Entrepreneur Opportunity (CEO) Introduction to Business Development Course.  This is a free 12-week course which helps individuals cultivate their business skills through classroom lectures, one-on-one counseling, and networking.  While there is no cost for the course, participants are expected to attend each week and participate with class discussion, research, and homework.

Classes will be held each Tuesday night from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., March 10 - May 19 at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex.

To learn more click here.  Applications can be downloaded here.

City Election - Early Voting Through March 7   Early voting for the District 2 and District 3 City Commission seats wraps up tomorrow,

Early voting is taking place at the Supervisor of Elections Office until March 7 at 4:30 p.m.

Sat., March 7.   Registered voters within those two districts can vote early from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 2001 Adams Lane. 

District polls will be open on Election Day, Tues., March 10 from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. The candidates are:

District 2
*  Liz Alpert
*  David Morgan
*  Eileen Normile (Incumbent)

District 3
*  Shelli Freeland Eddie
*  Matt Wooddall
*  Stan Zimmerman (Incumbent)

Running unopposed, Willie Shaw already has been declared re-elected in District 1.

A candidate must have a majority of the vote to win.  If that does not occur, the two candidates with the highest number of votes in that district will move on to a runoff election on May 12.

For more information about early voting and Election Day, contact the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections at 941-861-8600 or visit www.SarasotaVotes.com

Bobby Jones Golf Club - Weekend & Walking Specials   Do you or someone you know like to golf early on the weekends?  Or maybe you prefer to walk the links late in the afternoon?  If so, we have a couple of deals for you!

The weekend Early Birdie Special at Bobby Jones Golf Club will get you 18 holes of play with a riding cart for just $32.00  -- as long as you're playing before 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  That's a $14 savings from the regular rate.
Walking or riding....these are good deals and a great opportunity to enjoy our historic municipal golf course.  Please share with your golfing friends!

For more info on greens fees visit www.BobbyJonesGolfClub.com. 

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