The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

Dear Lake, Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at communications@scgov.net .  Daylight Saving Time Daylight Saving Time begins this  Sun., March 8 at 2 a.m.   Turn your clocks ahead one hour. Adult Clay Court Tennis Championships return to Payne Park Sarasota County will host the annual Sarasota County Adult  Clay Court Tennis Championships on  March 5-8  at the Payne Park Tennis Center. Spring Arts and Crafts Show returns to Englewood Sports Complex on March 14 Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources will host the annual, sold-out Spring Arts and Crafts Show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14 , at the Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 S. River Road in Englewood.  CodeRED emergency notification system available for free A free emergency notification service is available to a...

Lake Sarasotans are organizing another Community Garage Sale for Saturday,   March 7th, 8 a.m. to 1 pm.  If you wish to help with the advertising expenses, call Joanna at 941 371-1101. Also, the next Lake Sarasota Community meeting is Thursday, March 12, 7 pm at Sarasota Alliance Church.

Dear Lake, Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at communications@scgov.net .  Feb. 19 workshop to seek input on North Port joint-use library project TODAY:  Sarasota County Government, Sarasota County Schools and the city of North Port will hold a neighborhood community workshop about the planning, design and programs for the new Suncoast Technical College and Sarasota County Public Library. The two-hour workshop is set for  5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19 , in the Toledo Blade Elementary School Cafeteria in North Port. Nokomis Barefoot Beach Bazaar returns SATURDAY :  Sarasota County announces the continuation of the popular Barefoot Beach Bazaar at Nokomis Beach on  Saturday, Feb. 21 .  Englewood Sports Complex to host community garage sale SATURDAY :  Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural  Resource...

Dear Lake, Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at  pubcom@scgov.net .    County office closings for Presidents Day Most Sarasota County Government offices will be closed  Monday, Feb. 16 , in observance of Presidents Day.  County libraries and the Orioles team up to knock reading out of the park Sarasota County is going to bat with the Baltimore Orioles and the Big League Reader Program to encourage youth leadership.  Children who sign up at a county library and read three or more books during February earn a free grandstand ticket to the Orioles Spring Training game at Ed Smith Stadium on  March 14 . Free tax help available through AARP Free tax aid is available at locations throughout Sarasota County for quick filing of federal individual income tax returns at AARP tax aid sites and Volunteer Income Tax Assistan...

The Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee -- a coalition of Bee Ridge communities including Lake Sarasota, Laurel Oaks, Bent Tree, The Hammocks, Misty Creek and several more -- specifically asked the project manager of RaceTrac to beef up the landscaping. In return, the coalition offered to support their petition for a right-in turn lane from Bee Ridge Road. The coalition has kept its part of the bargain, but when Tom Hardy, project manager for Racetrac, was asked why there was not a single plant more than the minimum required by the County, here's Mr. Hardy's reply in toto : I have considered your request for the additional trees along Bee Ridge Road. We will not be adding any additional trees. We feel we have a balanced landscape that meets Sarasota County’s requirements. We have provided significant base shrubs and groundcover along the frontage that is well above code.  As far as the residents of Sarasota Lakes, we look forward to serving them and will embrace ou...