- April 15, 2024
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+ A home on Bird Key sells for $4.95 million
A Bird Key home at 667 Mourning Dove Drive sold for $4.95 million, the largest amount paid for a home on the island since January 2008. Lawrence and Joan Castellani, of Longboat Key, purchased the 6,520-square-foot home with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two half-baths and a swimming pool from the Sarasota-based Solent Inc. The home was built by Murray Homes and listed by its sister company, Murray Realty. Judy Kepecz-Hays, of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, sold the home.
+ Siesta Key newsrack rules adopted
County commissioners approved new regulations on newsracks in Siesta Key Village.
The Siesta Key Village Association had been working for a year to clean up what it considers an eyesore — the clusters of differently sized and differently colored newspaper and magazine boxes.
Homogenous dark-green modular newspaper units, like those downtown on Main Street, are being installed on Ocean Boulevard.
The new rules will not allow individual newsracks within 500 feet of those modular units, which essentially forces out those individual units.
The modular boxes will be capable of carrying up to 16 publications in each location.
The first area to see the new units will be Ocean Boulevard and Calle Miramar, where a cluster of 12 publication boxes now stands.
According to Russell Matthes, president of the Siesta Key Village Association, a second location will be near the SunTrust Bank at the north end of the Village.
The cost per rack location is about $4,800, and the participating publications will be responsible for funding them, as well as their maintenance.
+ Sarasota County School District earns an ‘A’
The Florida Department of Education has given the Sarasota County School District an “A” grade for the 2010-2011 school year.
That award comes because 97% of the district’s elementary and middle schools received grades of “A” or “B.”
“We are pleased that the majority of our elementary and middle schools are ‘A’ or ‘B’ schools, even with the tougher standards of FCAT 2.0,” said Superintendent Lori White. “Our teachers and administrators are dedicated to working to ensure that every student is learning and working to reach his or her highest potential.”
+ Robinson wins home-rule advocacy award
The Florida Association of Counties has awarded Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson the Presidential Advocacy Award, which is presented to commissioners who protect local control and advocate for home rule in Tallahassee.
The FAC gives the award annually to commissioners protecting the ideal that government closest to the people governs best.
“I am very honored to be recognized by my peers for making a difference on county issues,” said Robinson. “It is vital that our county voices are heard as we rebuild our economy.”
Robinson was one of 10 county commissioners around the state to receive the award this year.
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