The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback relating to this newsletter, contact us at  communications@scgov.net .  County government offices will be closed Jan. 16  for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Most Sarasota County Government offices, including the Sarasota County  Department of Health,  will be closed  Monday, Jan. 16 , for the national observance celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther  King Jr. County aims to ChargeUP! electric vehicle use As electric vehicle use becomes increasingly popular, Sarasota County Government is launching a program to boost the number of charging stations across the county, with two workshops planned to provide program details. January is Cervical Health Awareness Month The Sarasota County  Department of Health  and the Community Health Centers of Sarasota County remind families of males and females, s...

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 .    Two events help people get insurance during open enrollment for Affordable Care Act The Community Health Center of North Port and the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida will host two enrollment events on  Monday, Dec. 15  at Selby Library, 1331 First St. in Sarasota and at the Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd. in Venice.  Gulf Gate Library mall location closing  Jan. 3 The Gulf Gate Public Library's temporary location inside Westfield Sarasota Square Mall will be closed beginning  5 p.m. Jan. 3 , in preparation for the opening of a new and improved library at 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota, a few weeks later. Civics 101 now enrolling for 2015 classes Sarasota County Government's popular Civics 101 program begins  Jan. 22 , offering even m...

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...

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.     SCAT is on Facebook Visit and like the page now to stay on top of new service announcements. Voter registration deadline nears for  Aug. 26  Primary Election Sarasota County residents must be registered to vote by  Monday, July 28 , to be eligible to vote in the Primary Election on  August 26 , according to Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent. Show your love for local parks July is National Parks and Recreation month, and Sarasota County Parks and Recreation is celebrating by launching its own Instagram account this week.   Update shots now before school begins With local schools scheduled to resume  Aug. 18 , Sarasota County public health and school officials remind parents to get their child's immunizations update...

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 to hold Community Orchard Festival SATURDAY :  The festival will be held  Saturday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. -noon, at Colonial Oaks Park. It  will feature free youth birdhouse-building workshops, fruit tastings, and information on growing fruit trees and the "Growing Fruit Trees and Kids" program. Library to host forum on help for Parkinson's disease patients and caregivers SATURDAY :   The North Port Library will host a free discussion titled "Overview of Parkinson's Disease and the Supportive Role of Neuro Challenge Foundation" Saturday, June 21,  10:30 a.m.-noon . Free HIV testing available Free HIV testing will be available to the public at several locations in Sarasota County as part of the 20th Annual National HIV Testing Day o...