News Briefs 01.20.11

+ Miracle League unveils sign
The Miracle League of Manasota celebrated a special sign unveiling Jan. 10 at Longwood Park to demonstrate the organization is one step closer to building a new synthetically surfaced baseball field for adults and children with disabilities.

“The sign unveiling is exciting because we know the next phase is for our new field to become a reality,” said Bob Mitchell, president of The Miracle League of Manasota.

Miracle League’s board of directors as well as members of the Sarasota County Parks and Recreation and Sarasota County commissioners attended the event.

Once completed, the complex will include a custom-designed field with a cushioned rubberized turf to help prevent injuries, wheelchair-accessible dugouts, concession stand and restrooms and a completely flat surface to eliminate barriers for special-needs players.

An opening is slated for the fall of 2011.

+ Animal services opens adoption center
Manatee County Animal Services on Jan. 10 opened a new adoption center at 1002 B Manatee Ave. W., just east of the Manatee County Administrative Center.

The facility has room for five dogs and five cats, as well as a “Get Aquainted” room for prospective pet-owners to visit with the animals.

The new center will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Individuals wishing to adopt a pet can preview available animals online at www.mymanatee.org/pets. Adoption fees are $80 for dogs and $60 for cats, not including a required Manatee County license certificate and tag for Manatee County residents.

For information, visit www.mymanatee.org/pets or call 742-5933.

+ Palm-Aire tower hearing in motion
The fate of a telecommunications tower in the Palm Aire community now rests in the hands of a county hearing officer.

Manatee County hearing officer Hamilton “Chip” Rice Jr. on Jan. 12 took about 10 more minutes of additional testimony before closing the hearing on an application by Vertex Development to construct a 150-foot telecommunications tower on a piece of property owned by the Palm Aire Golf Club.

Hamilton has 21 days to issue a notice of intent and Vertex must file an objection within five days of issuance for the order to be reconsidered. A final verdict should be reached within a month.