News Briefs 04.14.11

+ Burglars target Mandalay vehicles
In the early morning hours of April 10, vehicles at four homes in the Mandalay community were burglarized.

A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report states all five vehicles that were burglarized had been left unlocked. Two GPS devices, CDs and loose change, among other items, were taken.

+ Director search narrowed to eight
The search for a new executive director for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall has been narrowed to eight.
Members of the Inter-District Authority Board on Tuesday were slated to receive packets containing information for eight top candidates, after The East County Observer went to press.

Colin Baenziger, whose firm was retained to conduct the search on behalf of the board, said all candidates in the running have both Florida and government experience.

“When you are applying for the top level position, the scrutiny is entirely different in the public sector,” Baenziger said. “The press, the public, the elected officials — it’s a very public process.”

Baenziger will meet with IDA members at 4 p.m., April 15, at Town Hall to whittle the candidate pool further.
“I think they’ve got a good group of candidates,” Baenziger said. “It’s a matter of who they want to talk to now.”

+ Flyball tourney benefits Ranch Humane Society
The Barkaholics Flyball team will be hosting its second annual tournament from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 16-17, at the Manatee Civic Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto

Flyball is a team sports for dogs, run relay-style over four jumps.

More than 200 dogs and their handlers are expected to compete in the event.

The team, which has several East County members, will be collecting donations of food for the Humane Societies of Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota as admission to the event. Guests should not bring their pets.
For more information, visit www.barkaholicsflyball.com.

+ East County returns salute to soldiers, families
East County residents rallied behind military veterans and their families last month during a “Return the Salute” fundraiser for Camp Better America. The organization raised almost $12,600, organizer Kathleen Gagg said.

Camp Better America is a non-profit that focuses on the reconnection process for military families after a soldier comes home from war.

+ U.S. Rep. Buchanan promotes youth art
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is encouraging local high school students to compete in the 30th Annual Congressional Student Arts Competition.

“Each spring, the U.S. House of Representatives sponsors an art competition for high school students,” Buchanan said. “This nationwide competition provides students with an excellent opportunity to showcase their talent.”

All high school students who reside in or attend school in Florida’s 13th District are eligible to participate. Each school can submit up to three student entries. Those entries will be judged by a curator for the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota.

The top entry from the district will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol with work from winning entries from every congressional district nationwide. The winner also will earn a flight for two to Washington, D.C., to present his or her winning artwork.

Second- through fourth-place winners, as well as those who receive honorable mention, will have their work displayed in the Ringling Museum of Art for one year.

The deadline to submit artwork is 5 p.m., April 29.

For more information, contact Buchanan’s office at 747-9081 or 951-6643.

+ Volunteers needed for upcoming regattas
The Regatta Organizing Committee is seeking volunteers to help with a series of rowing regattas over the next few weeks.

The committee hosted the 2011 Western District (High School) Rowing Championships April 2-3 at Nathan Benderson Park.

Upcoming regattas include: Florida Sprints League (April 16), Florida State Rowing Association — High School (April 30 through May 1), and the Dragon Boat Festival (May 7).

Interested volunteers should contact Tom Evans, volunteer coordinator, at [email protected].

+ Manatee County chills energy bill
Manatee County officials hope a new energy efficient chiller connected to the county’s Historic Courthouse will save taxpayers an estimated $138,000 annually.

Workers recently removed two 120-ton, 42-year-old chillers and cooling towers on the roof of the Historic Courthouse and the extremely energy efficient chillers at the Manatee Judicial Center with the Manatee County Historic Courthouse.

The $1.5 million project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

Officials expect additional savings resulting from the project will be $30,000 in annual maintenance contract costs, $32,000 in reduced man-hour costs and $17,000 in reduced work orders. Additionally, the change will save 240,000 kilowatts per year and will reduce the county’s carbon emissions by 172 metric tons annually.

“This is going to be a tremendous savings to the county over the long haul, and zero local tax dollars were spent on this,” Manatee County Board of County Commission Chairman Carol Whitmore said. “It’s a great improvement for the environment, so this is truly a win-win situation.”