Hi there, Sarasota! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Active Naples Residents Shouldn't Ignore Persistent Leg Symptoms and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Why did the girl pig break up with the boy pig? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Barancik Foundation awards $8.7 million to support regional missions (miramarflnews.com) — Sarasota residents stand to benefit from more than $8.7 million in new Barancik Foundation grants supporting schools, workforce training, parks, arts, and family services. Funding will aid Sarasota County Schools, The Legacy Trail's North Sarasota expansion groundwork, Pines of Sarasota, the Greater Sarasota Chamber's career programs, and several nonprofits that bolster families, mental health, literacy, and conservation.
2. County commissioners provide more direction to staff with goal of setting up vacation rentals registration program, including purchase of software that can help locate people not paying Tourist Develo (sarasotanewsleader.com) — Sarasota County commissioners are moving ahead with plans for a new vacation-rental registration program that would include safety inspections, 24/7 local contacts, and software to catch unpaid Tourist Development Tax. The board insists the system must ultimately pay for itself, though startup costs will be county-subsidized. City of Sarasota's existing program and local zoning quirks, including Siesta Key and Pinecraft, are shaping the design.
3. Pine View teacher faces fourth misconduct case, district letter shows (mysuncoast.com) — Parents in Sarasota County should know that Pine View teacher Liz Ballard has been investigated in four separate misconduct cases, according to a district letter to the state attorney general. Prior probes led to two unpaid suspensions and two cases with no discipline, while a fourth investigation opened last month is still pending, as officials respond to recent political-harassment allegations.
4. All Faiths Food Bank support children and families in Sarasota and DeSoto counties (mysuncoast.com) — Families in Sarasota County facing food insecurity could see more support, as All Faiths Food Bank just received $70,300 to expand its child-focused hunger programs in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. The grants will bolster backpack meals, summer hunger efforts, and school-based family pantries that bring fresh food directly to campuses, helping the many local students who rely on free and reduced-price school meals.
5. In a fender-bender? New Florida law leaves most minor crashes to drivers (mysuncoast.com) — Starting today, Florida drivers in Sarasota and statewide can handle most minor fender-benders themselves without calling police, as long as damage appears under $2,000 and no one is hurt. The new law is meant to free up officers for serious emergencies, but local legal experts warn hidden technology in modern bumpers can make damage estimates tricky. Drivers are urged to document everything carefully and know when 911 is still required.
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Ok Sarasota! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "Why did the girl pig break up with the boy pig?" — Because he was such a boar! (Thank you Theresa H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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