News Briefs

+ IDA approves plans for maintenance facility
Members of the Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority Board Thursday, June 21, approved plans for a $2.2 million maintenance facility off 59th Avenue East.

After meeting with representatives from Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 1, 2, 4 and 5 board members, the entity now will consider increasing the proposed size of the facility, currently at 6,700 square feet, to better meet the districts’ future needs, especially if construction bids come back lower than anticipated.

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey said the IDA likely will include provisions for additional square footage in its bid packages, so the board has construction options moving forward.

+ Workshop educates about impaired driving
McGee Auto Service, the Manatee County Substance Abuse Coalition and other organizations have teamed up to educate parents and the public about the dangers of impaired driving.

The event “Speak Up Against Impaired Driving” will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Ranch Lake Plaza, 8712 E. State Road 70. Attendees can witness a mock car crash, emergency response and a vehicle rollover simulation. They can also participate in a DUI driving challenge, enjoy taekwondo demonstrations, attempt rock climbing and more.

A special “Power of Parents Workshop,” meant to educate parents on how to talk to their teenagers about alcohol, will be held from noon to 12:15 p.m. To register for the parent workshop, email [email protected].

+ Manatee Schools earn recycling honors
Recycle Florida Today, the state’s leading recycling association, June 13 presented the Manatee County School District with the Outstanding Institution/Business Award.

The Manatee District was recognized for its commitment to recycling over the years, including a relationship with SP Recycling that began in 1998 with the “Read and Recycle Program” that yielded 7,000 tons of paper being recycled and a savings of $800,000. SP Recycling, a member of the Recycle Florida association, nominated the district for the award.

The district was also nominated for setting a Guinness World Record by collecting 29,560 pounds of plastic bottles during an eight-hour period April 12, at Sugg Middle School.

+ SCF doles out summer-camp offerings
The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota has opened enrollment for its Kids Summer Spectrum summer camp.

The camp, which is for ages 7 to 13, offers two sessions daily: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Daily classes cover a variety of topics, including: pillow art, jewelry design, safaris, science, wedding planning, writing and more.

Camp is being offered at SCF Bradenton, 5840 26th St. W., and SCF Lakewood Ranch, 7131 Professional Parkway E., Sarasota.

For more, visit scf.edu/kids or call SCF Lakewood Ranch at 363-7199.

+ County waiving pet-adoption fee with new program
Manatee County is giving an added push to its efforts of becoming a no-kill community by the end of the year.

“We do not want an animal kept in a kennel any longer than 90 days,” Manatee County At-Large Commissioner Carol Whitmore said. “There can be issues when a animal is kept in a cage for long periods, and we do not want this to happen.”

This month the county implemented a program for which it waves adoption fees for animals that have been in the county’s animal shelter for more than 90 days.

Prospective adoptive families are screened to ensure animals are given to a good home, and animals will be vaccinated and spayed/neutered before being adopted.

For more information, visit mymanatee.org.

Meetings & Agendas
• Heritage Harbour South Community Development District Meeting — 3 p.m. July 5, at the River Strand Clubhouse, 7155 Grand Estuary Trail, Bradenton.

• Manatee County Planning Commission — 9 a.m. July 12, at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Teachers give brains a ‘boost’
Teachers, instructional leaders and administrators from Willis and Gene Witt elementary schools took time off from their summer vacation earlier this month for a voluntary weeklong Quantum Learning workshop.

The voluntary training, which was sponsored jointly by both schools, is a scientifically, research brain-based integrated model of instruction, character development and classroom management. Workshop participants learned through a variety of hands-on activities, peer teaching, action planning and more.