Lakewood Ranch to consider allowing marathon through neighborhoods

By Nick Williams
nwilliams@bradenton.com

Lakewood Ranch community development district 1, 2 and 5 supervisors will consider allowing a 13.1-mile half marathon to run through its neighborhoods on January 27, 2013.

The marathon, organized by Active Suncoast, would begin on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch and continue along Lakewood Ranch Blvd. to Hidden River Trail through Riverwalk and Country Club and go south on Lorraine Road along the boarders of Summerfield and Country Club. The course would then turn west into Country Club on Players Drive, Thronhill Court and Edenmore Street. The course turns southeast and follows Legacy Blvd. to Arnold Palmer Green, and Master's Ave., eventually reaching University Parkway until it reaches Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

District 1 serves Summerfield and Riverwalk while District 2 and 5 serve the Country Club and Edgewater neighborhoods.

Karen Haynes, event coordinator for Active Suncoast, made the presentation to the district boards on Tuesday for their approval. She said nearly 700 runners and walkers are expected to participate.

"It's a fun activity for the community," she said.

During a join meeting between districts 2 and 5, supervisors cautioned of possible inconvenience to residents. After studying the course map, supervisors said some residents would not be able to leave their subdivision due to road blocks and would have to navigate through alternative roads.

The supervisors agreed to contact other neighborhoods in Manatee County that allowed a similar marathon through its neighborhood to weigh the pros and cons.

Haynes said she would need the districts' decision within the next month.

Drumming up interest in Braden River Library

Drummer Steve Turner (Herald file photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

EAST MANATEE — Six special summer events for school-age children are planned 2 p.m. Thursdays at the Braden River Branch Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E.

Steve Turner, who leads popular drumming programs for children, kicks things off  June 14.

Also planned at the library this summer:

- June 21 -  Balinese Shadow Puppet Theatre and Puppet Making

-   June 28 -  Nocturnal Neighbors presented by the Manatee County Natural Resources Department

-   July 5 - Storyteller Windell Campbell

-   July 12 - Tang Martial Arts Academy

-  July 19 -  Incredible Insects presented by the Manatee County Natural Resources Department

Seating for all of these events is free and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No registration is necessary except for the Balinese Shadow Puppets.

Information: 941-727-6079.

Split with Aquaterra would be a process for Heritage Harbour CDD

By Nick Williams
nwilliams@bradenton.com

When Heritage Harbour South Community Development District supervisor Joseph Jaudon expressed his concern over repair costs the district had to pay for a broken irrigation pipeline during a meeting last week, he also suggested the district sell ownership of the pipeline to Aquaterra, a developer-controlled irrigation utility.

Jaudon

That might be easier said than done.

The district could try to sell the irrigation line, but because it is a government agency, the line would have to be independently valued and offered for public bid, said district manager Jim Ward.

It could become a lengthy process.

Though the irrigation pipeline is not within the district's boundaries, the district has an agreement with Aquaterra that permits the utility company to transfer water through the district's irrigation pipes to serve the community, Ward said. The district does not pay Aquaterra, but an agreement exits for sale of the water with the homeowners associations in the community and the irrigation company, Ward said.

Jaudon said paying for a pipeline that does not serve the district is unnecessary.

"We receive no revenue from them," he said. "That pipeline feeds three private lakes that sells us water and we get no compensation for that pipeline."

The district paid $3,000 to help repair a broken water line owned by the district. The cost to repair the pipeline, which occurred nearly two months ago, was between $70,000-80,000, Ward said.

Ward said the $3,000 was taken from the district's emergency repair account, which contained roughly $5,600 at that time. The majority of the cost of repair was covered by insurance.

Celtic lap harp will travel

Celtic lap harp in Dan Cacchiotti's Myakka office. (provided photo)

Here's something you won't see in just any fire chief's office: a Celtic lap harp.


But Myakka Fire Chief Danny Cacchiotti has one.


Not that he knows how to play it.


"I think if you know how to play a piano, you might be able to play this," Cacchiotti told me.


The lap harp, in like-new condition, was donated to the Myakka City Foundation by a resident who moved out of the area.  


It will be auctioned 6:30 p.m. June 14 at a fundraiser for the foundation at the Polo Grill in Lakewood Ranch.
For anyone who has missed playing a lap harp, or just wants a beautiful conversation piece for their home, this could be a golden opportunity.


"My question is does anyone know how to play this harp, or know someone that can play it?" Cacchiotti asks.   If so, give him a call at 941-812-3029.

No-parking signs along Post Boulevard to help keep everyone safe at Premier Sports Campus

No-parking signs now line Post Boulevard at the entrance to Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch. (Herald file photo)

Those new no-parking signs along Post Boulevard at the entrance to Premier Sports Campus are the result of a recommendation by George Ellington, deputy chief/fire marshal for East Manatee Fire Rescue District.

The signs went up about a month ago after Ellington wrote with a concern to Aaron Burkett, traffic operations division manager for Manatee County Public Works.

"We have found that during events, even though adequate parking is provided, cars are being parked on both sides of Post Boulevard as well as in the U.S. Post Office Parking lot," Ellington wrote.

"This road has a sharp rise to it and pedestrian traffic walking from one side of Post Boulevard to the other may not be seen by oncoming traffic from State Road 70," Ellington said.

He was also concerned about parking along 59th Avenue East, which dead-ends at Post Boulevard.

Premier Sports Campus has vast acreage and there is no reason that motorists shouldn't use the safe off-road parking that is provided.

And yes, all those cars and trucks that converge at Premier Sports Campus are a quiet testimonial to what a success it has been in its one year of existence.

Tim Mulqueen, director of sports at Lakewood Ranch, says that after the crush of traffic at a Labor Day event, organizers knew they needed to take a hard look at parking.

Changes have been made to add hundreds of additional parking spaces, while clearly marking areas where parking is not allowed, all in the name of improved safety, he said.

May a busy month for Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance

By Nick Williams
nwilliams@bradenton.com

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance will host a number of events throughout the month of May. Nonmembers are able to attend at a price.

The alliance will hold its May Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, May 9 between 11:30am-1:00 p.m. at the Polo Grill on Lakewood Ranch to discuss local economic development. Sharon Hillstrom of the Manatee County Economic Development Corperation and Mark Huey of the Sarasota County EDC will lead the discussion. The cost is $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers.

On Wednesday, May 16, the alliance will hold its May Executive Briefing. The session, which will take place at Keiser University between 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., is titled “Protecting Your Intellectual Property”. The brief will be presented by Sarasota-based attorney Douglas  Cherry. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers.

The organization will start a 15-week golf league that will be open to all members starting May 17. The league will play every Thursday at the Legacy Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch. Members must join by May 11. The cost to join the league is $395.  

Lastly, on Wednesday May 30, LWRBA will have a new membership orientation between 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. at Keiser University.

West Coast Black Theater Troupe visits University Park women

Kathy Bondur, Nate Jacobs, Angelia Wood, Mary Conklin and UPWC President, Cheryl Kleiman. (Provided photo)

Nate Jacobs, founder and artistic director of the West Coast Black Theater Troupe, recently performed several songs from one of the company's production for the University Park Women's Club during a celebration of  the arts at Lakewood Ranch Country Club.

He also gave a stirring account of the troupe's history, accomplishments and mission.

Everyone was captivated by his talent and enthusiasm, said Katy Arrillaga, club historian.

Members had an opportunity to learn about and experience the great artistic treasures available in Manatee-Sarasota.

Co-vice presidents Mary Conklin and Kathy Bondur, and member Angelia Wood helped plan the program for 129 members and their guests.

Also attending the meeting was Kristen Theisen, vice president of Development for Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, which operates the Food Bank of Manatee.

Kris Higgerson, Kristen Theisen and
Cheryl Kleiman (provided photo)

In addition to the club's previous gift of $16,000 to the Food Bank, Theisen accepted another check for $5,000.

  This money will be used to help stock the pantry shelves and provide lunches during the summer months for children who otherwise would go without.

Outreach co-chairs Kris Higgerson and Ann Nellis took the lead in making the food bank donation possible.
           

Seated, left,  Donna Katos, Beckie Suverkrup, Mary Bennett, Jeanie Blazey, and standing , left, Maureen Ryan, Bea Levey, Mary Conklin, Theresa Wride and Marty Gersman. (provided photo)