The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

SCAT is on Facebook Visit and like the page now to stay on top of new service announcements. Emergency Services director named Sarasota County's next Emergency Service director is scheduled to begin  Aug. 4 , and brings with him 25 years of public safety experience.  Rich Collins, the current Emergency Management director for Osceola, Fla., will fill the county's vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Mike Tobias. Get happy - vote for our summer Parks video Time to get happy and vote for Sarasota County parks! Our summer campers and staff worked hard on a video for a Florida Recreation and Parks Association contest. Help us push it over the top by voting between now and  July 27 . Visit the "It Starts in Parks' Facebook page and click on the video contest tab. Select the Sarasota County video and enjoy watching the energy and enthusiasm of some of the best campers ever! Vote now! Free extension classes and workshops Saras...

Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at  communityconnections@scgov. net.     Finally! It's time to spring forward, change smoke alarm and weather batteries SUNDAY :  Daylight Saving Time begins  Sunday, March 9 , which is a great time to check batteries in smoke alarms and weather radios. Construction underway at Health Department crosswalk downtown To enhance the safety of clients, employees  and others who visit the William L. Little Health and Human Services Center, (Sarasota County Health Department), construction has begun on a pedestrian crosswalk and ADA access ramp at the School Avenue entrance to the building. 'Tooth Fairy' dental assistants recognized  A dental assistant who dresses up as "The Tooth Fairy" can make a child's first experience of going to the dentist a positive one - even for parents. In rec...

Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at  communityconnections@scgov. net.     Keep Sarasota County Beautiful Volunteer Awards Recognition Dinner is  Nov. 13 Keep Sarasota County Beautiful (KSCB) will honor the groups, businesses and individuals who contributed their time in 2013 at the 25th Annual KSCB Volunteer Awards Recognition Dinner,  Wednesday, Nov. 13 , at the Venice Community Center. Government offices close for Veterans Day All Sarasota County government offices, including libraries, recreation centers and the Sarasota County History Center will be closed  Monday, Nov. 11 , in observance of Veterans Day. Green Business Partnership to hold workshop on latest marketing strategies The Sarasota Green Business Partnership will host a workshop designed to help local businesses learn the latest green marketing strategies in order...

Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at  communityconnections@scgov. net.     Like us on Facebook Sarasota County is branching out. Like one or all of our pages. Sarasota County Government Emergency Management   Commissioner Christine Robinson Libraries UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Neighborhood Services  Parks and Recreation Green Business Partnership Office of Community Redevelopment County receives award for hazardous waste collection program Sarasota County Hazardous Waste has been recognized by the 2013 North America Hazardous Materials Management Association with a Longstanding Program Excellence Award. Barefoot Beach Bazaars now accepting vendor applications Parks and Recreation is accepting arts-and-crafts vendor applications for the upcoming Barefoot Beach Bazaar season at Nokomis Beach.  Workshop o...

County data center move to temporarily interrupt online services A number of online services provided by Sarasota County will be temporarily unavailable beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, and lasting through Sunday, Feb. 27, while they are relocated to the county's new data center at 5875 Bahia Vista Road. ( MORE ) Beach water advisories in effect for Venice, Turtle beaches Water quality at Venice Public Beach and Turtle Beach does not meet current health standards for recreational waters, according to the Sarasota County Health Department, which monitors water quality weekly at 16 sites along Sarasota County's 34 miles of beaches. ( MORE ) Englewood community cleanup scheduled for Saturday It's time to clean out the garage and gather up yard waste, tree trimmings and discarded household items. Sarasota County will hold its annual free community cleanup in the Englewood area from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. ( MORE ) 2011 Sarasota Invitational Regatta hosting...