News Briefs

+ Teenager arrested for vehicle burglary spree
Officers responded to a call of multiple vehicle burglaries in the River Pointe subdivision Nov. 4. The burglaries occurred on the 200 block of 41st St. NE and the 100 block of 41 St. Circle E. After several units responded to the scene, the suspect was located and apprehended without incident. Joshua Motley, 15, was arrested.

+ SCF president, trustees step down
State College of Florida’s Board of Trustees approved a settlement with the college’s president, Lars Hafner, and accepted his immediate resignation Oct. 30.

Hafner’s lawyer and attorneys hired by the board negotiated the deal, which pays the former president $363,000. Hafner had been accused of making reckless financial decisions.

In June, Board Chairman Carlos Beruff went to the state, saying that Hafner forged a former chairman’s name on documents. An ethics commission cleared Hafner of any wrongdoing.

Later last summer, Gov. Rick Scott appointed six board members to help with fiscal management. Joe Miller and Jennifer Saslaw, who both resigned, were the only board members not appointed by Scott. Trustees did not name an interim president. Jack Crocker, vice president of academic quality and success, who was to serve as acting president until an interim president is found, told staff he also resigned late last week.

In an email to college staff, Crocker submitted his letter of resignation the day before his new appointment.

+ Commissioners OK preserve expansion
County Commissioners unanimously approved Oct. 30, an expansion of Robinson Preserve, a Manatee County mainstay for bird watching, hiking and photography. The preserve will be expanded by 150 acres according to an agreement with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast.

+ Red Cross volunteers to help Sandy victims
Volunteers from the American Red Cross offered a relief response to Sandy, including about 40 from Florida’s West Coast region. The Red Cross’ emergency services program manager from Sarasota also joined the local volunteers, according to Linda Carbone, CEO of Florida’s West Coast region.

The group serves three-week deployments and, thus far, has served over 1,000,000 meals and snacks.

The county entered an agreement that will expand Robinson Preserve by 150 acres.

The expansion will include enhanced educational, recreational and environmental benefits such as additional wetland and upland restoration, construction of an environmental center, trails boardwalks and more.

The agreement also allows the Robinson family to retain 50 acres on which they could build up to 50 units under the current zoning and residential density for the property.

+ Loan helps Brides Against Breast Cancer expand
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation provided a second loan to Brides Against Breast Cancer, which will allow it to triple the number of bridal shows in its Tour of Gowns.

BABC will dramatically expand its operations in support of the Center for Building Hope (CBH).

In December 2011, CBH acquired most of the assets of Brides Against Breast Cancer and moved the operation from Portland, Ore., to a new location in Lakewood Ranch. The acquisition was made possible through a low-interest loan provided by Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The revenue being generated by the sales of bridal gowns in the shows is helping CBH deliver its free programs and services to hundreds of local families impacted by cancer.

Meetings & Agendas
• Manatee County Planning Commission — 9 a.m. Nov. 8, at the Manatee County Administrative Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

• Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Nov. 13, at the Manatee County Administrative Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

• Manatee County School Board Meeting — 5:45 p.m. Nov. 12, at the School Board Administration Building, 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.