Orchestra, SPAC should combine efforts

Orchestra, SPAC should combine efforts

Both the Sarasota Orchestra and the Sarasota Performing Arts Center are proposing to build separate venues, each costing approximately $400 million. Each is dependent on raising most of that through contributions from the Sarasota community. Eight-hundred million dollars is a lot of money, even for Sarasota. The answer may be to build one facility that accommodates the needs of both organizations. 

What then do we do with the Van Wezel?  

The Burns Court Cinema is well past its best-if-used-by date. The Van Wezel could be repurposed as the venue for a new Burns Court Cinema. It might then be possible for the annual Sarasota Film Festival to have all is programs at one location. 

— Ray Knowles, Sarasota

Bumps on U.S. 41 a nuisance

Driving on U.S. 41 between Bee Ridge Road to Stickney Point Road, the white painted bumps in the road are extremely aggravating. 

A construction error applied too much material to these white lines, and they are bump after bump. This may seem like no big deal to some, but it’s the only north-south road we have besides Interstate 75. 

The next time you drive this stretch of raod, count the bumps you and your care are hit with. 

There are 10 of these mini speed bumps, and I’m afraid there is nothing we can do but endure. 

I have called the Florida Department of Transportion and highway safety people — no help. They said it would be fixed when they repave U.S. 41 in two to four years from now!

— Tim Gabriel, Sarasota