The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

An alligator is blamed for the death of a medium-size dog around July 4th at Lakeview Park. Though there were no witnesses, some disc golfers were out playing in the afternoon with their dog, a sort of medium-size ridgeback, when it disappeared. The man returned later with a kayak and found the dog floating in the lake. Dog owners and parents are advised to be very careful - keep dogs on leash near Lake Sarasota.

The next meeting of the Lake Sarasota Community Group will feature   Sarasota tax attorney Mary King , who will talk about tax resolution and take questions from those in attendance. The meeting is set for March 13, 7 pm at Sarasota Alliance Church (opposite Chaucer). Other items: 1. The Lake Sarasota Community Garage Sale is set for Saturday March 29th. If you wish to be on the map, contact Sandy Allen at SarasotaDreams@gmail.com. Here's the map so far: https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zBfHYD-6Jr3Y.kGQrIcvMzfGU 2. The proposal to rezone the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce (directly opposite the Mauna Loa entrance to Lake Sarasota) comes before the Planning Commission April 3rd, 6:30 pm , at the North County Admin Center. After this review, it will go to the Board of Commissioners. Included in this proposal are two items: 1) rezoning from PCD to CN, and 2) a right-in/right-out turn from Bee Ridge into the Park of Commerce about 450' from the intersection ...

Sarasota County is planning to make some improvements to Lakeview Park and to the adjacent Paw Park . Have some ideas? They want to hear from the community. Take a moment to send your ideas to lakesarasota@gmail.com - we'll collect and forward. Deadline: Dec. 15th!

It was a surprise to learn that there are some folks who live in Lake Sarasota who are unaware of lovely Lakeview Park which sits right next to the neighborhood, running along Lago Road and Hand Road. The Sarasota Parks and Rec dept . has decided to make some improvements to Lakeview, and they'll be asking for suggestions, ideas, from the neighbors as well as from those who use the various facilities in the park, including the dog park. With its canals and old "stadium seating" on the lake, the park has traces of its early days as Sunshine Springs and Gardens , a resort that was in truth an extended marketing event to get people to come see property in Eastern Sarasota County. The park is also used regularly for two sports that folks of all ages enjoy, disc golf and petanque. The Sky Pilot s, a local disc golf club, regularly stages tournaments here. And the Sarasota Petanque Club  plays on Sundays and Thursdays, and has a qualifying world champio...

At least in Lake Sarasota -- odd, as we're rather far to the East in the county - the Gulf shots are at Casey Key:

On Saturday folks from Lake Sarasota , as well as from Sarasota County Parks and Rec , and from the Sarasota Club de Petanque , Friends of Sarasota County Parks , and the Sarasota Sky Pilots came out with shovels, hoes, clippers and anything else at hand to remove, uproot, and basically annihilate the infestation of air potatoes in Lakeview Park. Here's how the fence line looked before the community took action: Before And after: After Thanks All! Photos courtesy of Lynda Eppinger, who also was the prime organizer of this event.

Air Potato Invasion We're having an Air Potato Invasion in Lakeview Park -- this invasive vine climbs rapidly up trees and plants and eventually smothers them. It is very prolific and extremely hardy -- the best way to get rid of it is to pull it up by the potato-like roots.  An Air Potato Pick-Up is scheduled for Saturday, June 23, 9 am - noon . It will focus on the terrific new trees and plants that were recently placed in Lakeview Park near the Petanque Courts on the Lago Way side of the park. If you can make it, please come - bring sunblock, water, gloves, a spade, pruners, and closed shoes are recommended.  The air potato is in Florida thanks to the USDA . More event details below. Where:  Lakeview Park, newly planted buffer area Who:  County staff and volunteers who care about Lakeview Park When:  June 23 rd , 2012 from 9am-12pm What:  Removal of  air  potatoes/vines from the newly planted area at Lakevi...

This is the dry season, and it's at its peak. Wednesday evening some trees were set ablaze in Lakeview Park, fairly close to a house. The fire moved very quickly. Here are a few notes gleaned from those present: 1. How did the fire start? Witnesses said they saw three or four young kids with bikes at the spot where and when the fire began. The kids took off as it gathered force. They thought the kids were 13 or so, possibly younger. It is unknown if anyone actually saw someone start the fire. 2. Who called it in?  Several people who were in the park around 7:30 p.m. appear to have called 911. One woman said she was kept on the phone for 10 minutes with questions like, "How high is the fire?" Others in the park might also have called it in, however, no one shouted to the homeowner or came to his door to tell him of the fire. It was his dog's barking that drew his attention to the flames, which were very close to his fence, he reported. 3.  How long did i...

A neighbor sends photos of piles from recent apparently unauthorized cutting done to certain locations within Lakeview Park, along with this excerpt from the County Code: From Sarasota County Code of Ordinances, Article II, Section 90-33 (16) - Prohibited Activities, Conditions or Uses: Destroying, cutting, carving, mutilating, moving, displacing, breaking off, injuring, defacing, marring, moving, digging, harmfully disturbing or removing from any area, or the waters thereof, any buildings, structures, facilities, cultural resources, including historic and prehistoric, equipment, park property, soil, natural water bottom formation, sand, gravel, rocks, stones, fossils, minerals, plants (including terrestrial, aquatic, marine, or epiphytic plants) or animals, artifacts, or other materials. And, under Penalties: (3) Any person who violates Section 90-33 (a)(9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), or (18) is subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor of the second degree, pun...

As of this morning, the County is enforcing the leash law at Lakeview. Notices with an explanation have been posted - here's a copy: NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS LAKEVIEW PARK AND PAW PARK Due to recent incidents involving unrestrained dogs, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department and Animal Control will be enforcing the leash law outside of the paw park fenced area. Per County ordinance, the only area where dogs are allowed to be off-leash is within the paw park fenced area. Please keep your dog on a 6-foot leash when outside of the paw park fenced area. There is a “first offense” fine associated with Sheriff’s Department enforcement if your dog is off leash in the park outside of the fenced paw park area. When maintenance work results in closing an area within the paw park, sign(s) explaining the closure will be posted. (This was the case for the tree work that was recently completed.) Park visitors have been asking about the dog incidents that have occurred at the park. One County main...

The Lakeview Park Clean-Up brought out some 35-40 folks from the Sky Pilots Disc Golf Club and from Lake Sarasota, who spent a lovely morning pulling debris, garbage, sunk logs, garbage cans, and benches from the canals. As the County asked, the vegetation was piled at the entrance to be picked up. Special thanks to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of Pack 100, to Ray and Connie Bresciani and to the LSCG for the pulled pork sandwiches, to Tammie for the veggie food and chips.

This is a reminder that we are having a park clean up day this Saturday, March 26th. The clean up is being sponsored by the Sky Pilots and they need our help. As mentioned before, when we had our Lake Sarasota Community Group clean up day at the park, the Sky Pilots came out in force and helped us. It is now our turn to repay the favor. The clean up will be from 9:00 AM till 12:00 Noon,so its just 3 hours (not a full day job). There will be some food served and water will be provided for the workers. PLEASE TRY AND MAKE IT TO THE CLEAN UP! THE MORE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP, THE FASTER AND EASIER IT IS FOR EVERYONE AND THE BETTER OUR PARK WILL LOOK WHEN WE ARE DONE. Here's one reason the park needs periodic clean-ups: the picnic tables are regularly thrown in the water, or moved, or used for bridges, or broken up. The Petanque players had a large gathering last Sunday, and they found only three picnic tables where there used to be six. Today they found only two: Because the third ...

Lakeview Park is one of the great resources available to Lake Sarasota. It gets a lot of use, and occasionally, some abuse. Part of the challenge with a park like this is to strike the proper balance between human uses, like disc golf, Petanque, and the dog park, and nature's own needs -- natural habitat for birds, fish, and critters. On March 26th the Sky Pilots disc golf club, Lake Sarasota Community Group, and anyone else who wishes to join in will spend three hours clearing debris cleaning up the park. Food will be served for all who pitch in. Come out on Saturday March 26 from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet your neighbors, enjoy the great outdoors, and help your park.

Those of you who know Lakeview Park may be aware that ever since a pump was installed about 18 months ago, the canals have retained a steady water level. This has nurtured a lively population of bluegill, tilapia, a few bass, frogs, wading birds and other creatures. A few weeks ago, that mini-ecosystem was threatened when the pump gave out. As it's been dry, the water level in the canals began to drop - slowly at first, then precipitously. A plea to the Parks Dept. resulted in an incredibly rapid response. First, a temporary pump was installed to halt the draining. Then, within a very short time, a new submersible pump was installed. The new system is quiet but strong: within 36 hours it brought the water level of the park's entire canal-and-pond system back to where it had been, without appreciably lowering the lake. To the Santas at Sarasota County Parks and Rec , on behalf of the water creatures, the neighborhood and all who enjoy the park, our deepest gratitude, happy holid...

This Sunday the Sky Pilots -- the Disc Golf club -- will be in Lakeview Park doing some trimming and tidying up of the park areas. Those who have been out there recently will have noticed that while the canals seem less clogged with duckweed, there are some "issues": trees have fallen, air potatoes are on the rebound, among other things. If you have a few hours, they'll be in the park from 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday, June 27. If you do come out, bring some clippers, gloves, a garbage bag, and if you let a club member know you're there and working, you'll probably get invited to a picnic lunch at the pavilion, and maybe to a game of disc golf afterwards.

Santa is due in Lake Sarasota on the firetruck on Sunday, Dec. 20th, between 2 and 4 pm. (See the map here ). But our neighborhood has been treated to a Christmas gift already. Last week Ray and Connie Bresciani and some of their grown children and growing grandchildren spruced up the front entrances, laying down 40 bags of mulch, doing some weeding, and even thoughtfully added wreathes for a nice seasonal touch. Thanks Ray and Connie and all you Brescianis! Not just for this gesture, but for the time, thought, sweat and care you have put into many projects in Lake Sarasota. We're fortunate to have quite a few residents who pitched in to help build Hina Point Park, pick up trash on Mauna Loa and to do a really thorough clean-up of Lakeview Park, among other projects -- all that great help is gratefully acknowledged. Not all are aware that if it were not for Ray and Connie, some of these projects would not have gotten done -- some they initiated, others were shaped and enhanced by t...

There's been some new vandalism in Lakeview Park. It's been a while since we've had any significant issues. This time, a picnic table bench has been broken: And benches that face the lake on the point and near the pavilion have had their backs broken. This took some doing, as they are very sturdily made. Also, there's black spray paint on the door of the men's restroom, also near the pavilion. If anyone has positive information, contact lakesarasota@gmail.com.

Anyone wishing to help plan and prepare for OctoberFest '09 , the Lake Sarasota Community Gathering we're having on Saturday, Oct. 24, please come out tomorrow, Sept. 26 , to the pavilion in Lakeview Park for an organizational chat. Sandy Allen is coordinating the planning and will be there. We're hoping to have activities for all ages -- games for kids, some informative resources for adults, along with food, music, folks from the county, and maybe some raffles and prizes. It's a chance to meet your neighbors and learn more about what's happening here. Try to make it tomorrow if you can, at noon, at the pavilion. If you can't but wish to be involved, contact Sandy at sallen11@comcast.net.

The loud, abrasive sounds emanating from Lakeview Park today came from the mulcher. Parks and Rec used the 120-horsepower device to grind up a lot of dead wood and some invasive bushes: As a result, more park grounds are accessible and free of dead trees, always a potential fire hazard. The next step will be treating the highly invasive Potato Vine with a chemical to make it go away. The contractor on the job was emphatic in saying the chemical is in no way noxious to pets or wildlife.

A crowded agenda and an unusual group of guests made the Sept. 8th meeting of the Lake Sarasota Community Group a memorable one. The official business included: Treasurer's Report : LSCG has $1,337.19 in the bank. Citizen's Patrol : Ted is always seeking volunteers. Reach him at TCover6161@aol.com He advises neighbors to keep an eye out for any unusual activity at houses they know to be empty, and to never have their garage door openers visible in their cars. Saved by the dead battery One couple present told of how their daughter's car was nearly stolen - thieves jimmied open the door, pulled out the ignition, and would have been on their way, only the battery was dead. Lakeview Park and Canals: The Sarasota Sky Pilots and some Lake Sarasota residents did another clean-up, pulling lots of debris out of the canals. The lake itself has risen since water began pumping through the canals, thanks to rainfall. Many who use the park have remarked on how much clearer and cleaner...