The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

Two intersections on Mauna Loa now have stop signs, requiring drivers to come to a complete halt on Mauna Loa at Luawana, right by the school crossing, and again at Lago Way. The signs were installed by the county Jan. 31. It will be interesting to see how these affect traffic. === Seven people showed up for the second Citizen Patrol training session on Tuesday. Out of 1800 homes, that's not much of a percentage. For those interested, the training takes no time at all, the schedule calls for less than 2 hours a month, and you are never at any time called upon to intervene in any way. You're the eyes and ears of the Sheriff and that's it. Volunteers email George Morgan.

Citizens Patrol will hold a training session for new recruits on Jan. 30th, 6:30 p.m., at Sarasota Baptist Church . The session should only last about 45 minutes, says organizer George Morgan . The Lake Sarasota Community Group will hold its next General Meeting at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 13th at Sarasota Baptist Church at Proctor and Hand.

Tisha created a Bubbleshare to share her pics of the Jan. 20th Yard Sale: This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog For those of you who might be curious, Bubbleshare is a brilliant, simple, free web-based picture site. Check it out !

(Click on any photo to see it larger.) This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

With one week to go, it's not too late to get your house listed on the Lake Sarasota Yard Sale map. With over 40 homes already signed up to participate in next Saturday's sale, Dawn says people will be able to sign up if they get back to her by noon Thursday, Jan. 18th . Just drop her a note that you will be participating, with your address. That will ensure your home is on the Yard Sale Map that visitors will receive at the Mauna Loa entrance on Saturday. Remember: When: Jan. 20, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Where: Mauna Loa near Bee Ridge - pick up maps and refreshments, meet your neighbors. Sponsored by the Lake Sarasota Community Group.

The Sarasota County Commission today approved the creation of a special taxing district to fund the installation of central water lines to 63 properties on Jarvis and Lago in Lake Sarasota. The vote in favor of Ordinance 2007-009 was unanimous. The ordinance calls for the project to begin in July 2007 and to reach completion in January 2008, at an estimated cost of $388,000. That breaks down to $6,200 per parcel, for an annual assessment of $454 per year over 25 years. County staff cited a survey that went to the owners of the 63 parcels in 2006. Of the 41 who responded, 80% indicated they wished to have water, according to the staff. At the time of the survey, the county estimated the project would cost "between $4,000 and $6,000" per home.

The County Commission has scheduled a public hearing to hook up homes on Jarvis and Lago to the county water system. The hearing is set for tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 1:30 p.m. in Commission Chambers, 1660 Ringling Blvd.:

Our next general meeting is at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 9th, at Sarasota Baptist Church at Proctor and Hand. We'll be planning the Jan. 20th Community Garage Sale -- already about 32 homes are lined up to participate. Want to join in? There's still time - email Dawn at dsteele@firstbenefits.net .

Lake Sarasota's community-wide Yard Sale is coming on Jan. 20th, 2007, and all residents are welcome to join in. The sale will run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m . It will be listed in the newspaper and in various places online. We are creating a map showing every house participating in the sale. To be on the map, email your name and address to Dawn no later than Jan. 10th. If you need to use snail mail, the Lake Sarasota Community Group address is: Lake Sarasota PO Box 21983 Sarasota, FL 34276 Come out on the 20th for free refreshments and meet your neighbors. Want to join in? Our community group's next general meeting is at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 9th, at Sarasota Baptist Church at Proctor and Hand.

A note from our Neighborhood Coordinator, Debbie Marks: Good afternoon everyone - just a reminder of the January 9, 2007 meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Sarasota Baptist Church , 7091 Proctor Road. We'll be finalizing the plans for the community garage sale on January 20th . If you have not registered to participate in the garage sale, please do so with Dawn Steele ( dsteele@firstbenefits.net ) so that we may show you on the map we will be handing out at the entrance. Also, if anyone is available to help move some landscape bricks, please let me know. We're trying to get them moved this week. Happy New Year and hope to see you on Jan. 9. Thanks! Debbie Debbie Marks Sarasota County Government Senior Planner, Neighborhood Services 1660 Ringling Boulevard, 4th Floor Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 861-5865

Happy Holidays from Lake Sarasota

Delayed by holiday lunacy, here are highlights from the final Community Group meeting of Dec. 12th: There's a good chance the front entrance at Mauna Loa will be reconfigured in the coming year, as a result of the creation of a new turn lane at the intersection with Bee Ridge there. Laura announced plans for a sign made of better material for that entrance - with County funds, Debbie said we might be able to order two signs. The foliage on the sign has been changed from a palm tree to cattails, both as truer to our ecological niche and more aesthetically pleasing. Citizens Patrol will hold another training session for new recruits on Jan. 30th, 6:30 p.m., at Sarasota Baptist Church. The session should only last about 45 minutes, says organizer George Morgan . There was some preliminary discussion of a plan to make some improvements to Lakeview Park - that's the park next to the Dog Park. Clearing brush, fixing the pump, improving the boatramp, locking the gate to keep out vehic...