The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

Sarasota Emergency Services has forwarded a bulletin regarding the oil spill in the Gulf (click to make bigger): More on what's happening here and here .

We have good news about Maggie Mae from Kelly: "Maggy was found walking down Bee Ridge Road last night and a man with kids stopped, opened the door, and she jumped right in. He took her to an all night vet, who then transferred her to Animal Services. Martha was at Animal Services before they opened and Maggy is now safely at home!!!!! Thank you for all of your help and support!! We need to stick together as a community to help each other!" Lake Sarasota: Lost Dog Alert!! Can I do this here? Name: Maggie Mae, Age: 1 Lives: Mauna Loa near Bee Ridge. Description: Grey & White, Tall & Thin. If anyone has any info please call 586-7137. Has only been gone for about a few hours now. Please help!!

According to the Herald Tribune, that's a fair question to ask. See these stories: Stepping up the pressure on insurers Loose reins, despite concerns: three examples How insurance regulators put Florida homeowners at risk Regulators take a gamble on discount insurance

This picture is from the archives of Sunshine Springs and Gardens , the original resort on Lake Sarasota, back when the lake was first built. The resort was a sales device to promote -- what else -- real estate. The question: Is the elephant real? An early shot of the lake and park - note the canals seemed to flow into the lake:

The task was simple: 55 trees in eight medians along Mauna Loa required 170 bags of mulch: And fertilizer, organized for each median island by Ray: Ray got the mulch and fertilizer by utilizing county grant funds. Once again, we owe a debt of thanks to Sarasota County Neighborhood Services , in particular to Debbie Marks, the county liaison who has been there for us from the beginning, four years ago. The fertilizer and mulch were on-site by 8:30 a.m. yesterday: Ray A small band of volunteers began distributing the mulch to the median islands, while an even small band began trimming and weeding: Desiree and Josh Other bags were distributed to other volunteers at Wake Avenue, where the sign was recently refurbished, and at Hina Park: Thanks to all who turned out and gave their time and strength. Update: A "thank you" from Ray, and a few more pics taken by Tina and Desiree:  I really appreciate each of the volunteers that attended our clean up. What a GREA...

Volunteers to help clean and mulch the Mauna Loa entrance and median are asked to meet  at the intersection of Mauna Loa and Tarawa at 9 a.m. this Saturday, April 17. Bring hat, gloves, shovels, rakes, clippers, etc. Any questions, contact Ray at raycons1@comcast.net or at 371-1180.

A reminder from Sandy about the 2010 Business Directory: Hi, there! I wanted to remind you guys of the Business Directory deadline.  Please get me your business card size ad and $20 for each ad asap or especially before the deadline on April 17.   You can drop them off at 6610 Jarvis Rd.  There will be a box by the front door if you want to drop it.  You can also mail it.  If you can send me a short email saying you plan to be in the directory or you do not plan to be in the directory so I can get a head count.  Keep in mind we use all the money over the expense of printing the directory to help our neighborhood be a better place to live. And, please, please come by the Networking/Meet Your Neighbor Event at the Madfish Grill on April 14 from 7-9pm. Sandy Allen Lake Sarasota Community Group lakesarasota. blogspot.com 941-321-5582

College Athletes from all over Florida came to compete in the Benderson Park Rowing Championships today. When the waterway is expanded later this year, Sarasota will be home to one of only seven world-class rowing sites in the world, backers say.

Click to get a large image - this is the most up to date list of shelters, denoting facilities, whether pet friendly, etc. - courtesy of Sarasota Emergency Management.

Highlights of the April 8, 2010 meeting are below: - The treasury is now at $342.72 after renewal of the articles of incorporation for the Lake Sarasota Community Group ($61.25), new Yard of the Month signs ($75 - kindly desist from stealing them), and reimbursal to Sandy Allen for printing and misc. expenses of the Yard sale ($102). A $500 charitable contribution at Christmas was the major other expense. - Three new homes were chosen for Yard of the Month . (By the way, we do not publish names or addresses of those homes because we have not received permission to use them, and do not wish to violate privacy. If you would like your home or name listed, just get in touch or leave a note in the comments thread below.) - Beautification : Ray and Connie are taking names to volunteer to help mulch and improve the Mauna Loa Entrance and median on Saturday, April 17th, from 9 to noon. If you can lend a hand, please let them know -  their email. - Ray also noted that there's a ...

How one North Port family made a real connection with its neighborhood.

Ca lling on All Area Business Owners/Community-Minded Residents, We still need enthusiastic Volunteers for the  2010 Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Championship  this coming weekend!!!   If you have already volunteered, please disregard this request.   This important community sporting event is being be held at the Nathan Benderson Park (formerly Cooper Creek) in North Sarasota County.   Our needs are as follows: Friday,April 9th 5  Volunteers  needed from  8 Am to NOON 8  Volunteers  need from  NOON till 4 PM Saturday, April 10th 4  Volunteers  needed from  5:30 AM to 10 AM 12  Volunteers  needed from  7 AM until NOON   Check your personal calendars and respond to this email (or call) if you can help us.  In you are unable to help this time, please forward our request to another person.  It’s important that we hear from you as soon as possible. ...

From Sarasota Emergency Management: Good Afternoon; The State Department of Emergency Management is supporting the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) with a program titled The  Great Hurricane Blowout . This innovative program will promote a culture of hurricane-based preparedness in our state through fresh outreach methods. The final result of this program will help Floridians accomplish several objectives, including: Ø    Making a family plan Ø    Making a disaster-supply kit Ø    Understanding safe cooking and sanitary practices without county and municipal utility services Ø    Passing time without electricity or the family’s ability to safely leave its home Ø    Mitigating the effects of storm damage on residences Ø    Training with various disaster-related non-profit organizations You can help the  Great Hurricane Blowout  move Florida’s families “down the path to preparedness” in multiple ways. You...

The Lake Sarasota Community Group, a not-for-profit, voluntary organization, holds its April meeting on Thursday, April 8th at Sarasota Alliance Church, 7221 Bee Ridge Rd . Meetings start at 7 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. The agenda will include, among other items: - Plans for upkeep for front entrance, medians and Hina Park. - Update on County Grant funds. - Yard of the Month - Report on Yard Sale and Business Directory - Ideas for events, fundraisers. - Security - Citizens Patrol, recent activity, Sheriff's reports. - Treasurer's Report. - Update from Sandy: [Developer]  Richard Fischer will be coming to our meeting and will be able to talk about the land between lake sarasota and I75 and the land on mauna loa extension.  There have been some new developments..a possible bond.

Free and low-cost health services available across the county   The Sarasota County Health Department's Health In Motion Mobile Medical Unit will travel to 15 sites in Sarasota County during April to offer free H1N1 (swine) flu vaccines along with its other regular services. Click for more