Heads up for those who travel Fruitville Road between Lime and School avenues!
Sarasota County plans to remove the existing railroad tracks on Fruitville Road adjacent to The Legacy Trail --- and that will temporarily impact vehicular traffic during the next two weekends.
The deconstruction will be done in two phases. First, westbound traffic will be temporarily closed, then eastbound traffic:
Sept. 29/30: Starting at midnight, all westbound lanes will be closed between Lime Avenue and School Avenue. The rails will be removed and the road improved and reopened in time for the Monday morning commute.
Oct. 6/7: Starting at midnight, all eastbound lanes will be closed between Lime Avenue and School Avenue. Crews will remove the rails, improve the road and reopen the area prior to the Monday morning commute.
Electronic message boards will be placed on site to let travelers know about the temporary closure and detours.
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The Ad Hoc Van Wezel Purple Ribbon Committee touring the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
The Ad Hoc Van Wezel Purple Ribbon Committee (PRC) met for a walk-through of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall earlier this week, after the tour was postponed due to Hurricane Idalia.
Guided by Van Wezel staff, the tour included a thorough look at the building, focusing on areas that present challenges. Committee members took notes and asked questions throughout the tour.
The PRC's next step is to review and discuss an engineering scope of services for the building. That discussion is expected to occur during the Committee’s next meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the City Hall Annex. The meeting will be open to the public (as was the building tour).
The Committee ultimately will provide recommendations to the City Commission on options to repurpose the building. Thank you to all the Committee members for their time and commitment to this important community issue.
Our popular award-winning Bay Runner trolley surpassed a significant milestone: 250,000 passengers!
Since its launch just 18 months ago, over a quarter of a million riders have opted to live more, drive less and take the Bay Runner. To celebrate the occasion, our Parking General Manager Broxton Harvey surprised our 250,000th passenger, Fran Seminerio, a Lido Key resident, with a nap sack filled with City of Sarasota swag. Congratulations, Fran!
The Bay Runner is free and offers a fixed route that connects downtown to the keys and Lido Beach.
It runs every day of the year, including holidays:
- 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday
- 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday
Check out SarasotaBayRunner.com to learn more. If a mobile app is more convenient, we have a Bay Runner app that provides real time trolley tracking. Download it through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Congratulations to everyone opting to take the trolley and helping to make our roads a little less congested!
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 Lido Key resident Fran Seminerio with Parking Manager Broxton Harvey after he announced she was the 250,000th Bay Runner passenger.
The clock is winding down to vote for The Bay Park in the People’s Choice Award! Voting ends Friday, Sept. 29.
Our beautiful blue-green oasis is a finalist in the 10th Annual Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award recognized by the American Planning Association (APA) Florida. This year's award honors "Great Resilient Places".
The Bay was constructed with an eye on resiliency and adaptation to new conditions for future generations. We can't think of a better place to be honored! Vote for The Bay here. (You can vote once a day!)
Don't forget! Preparations are underway for a wonderful 5-day celebration next month as The Bay turns one. Family-friendly festivities are planned from Oct. 18-22 with something for everyone! Check out the schedule of events at www.TheBayTurnsOne.org and mark your calendar to join the community fun!
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We are excited to announce a notable achievement in our commitment to community engagement and building strong relationships with our residents.
The Sarasota Police Department is proud to introduce a new Community Relations Unit (CRU) and the grand opening of the Community Relations Unit Office in North Sarasota at 1782 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Way.
CRU officers are dedicated to addressing quality of life concerns throughout our city. They are highly trained and bike-certified, allowing them to patrol area parks and neighborhoods efficiently. You may have already seen them at schools, where they greet students during morning drop-offs and provide homework assistance or enjoy a game of sports with the kids after school.
To celebrate this exciting addition to our community, we invite you to join us at the grand opening of the CRU office from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 14. The event promises fun for the whole family, with a DJ, delicious food, ice cream, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and even a friendly basketball game.
We believe this new office, embedded in the heart of Newtown, will further enhance our outreach efforts and strengthen trust within our community. We can't wait to celebrate this special occasion with you. See you there!
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A baseball video that has gone viral with sports fans, spectators who love to watch dreams come true and those who enjoy a heartfelt father-son story, has a special tie to the City of Sarasota.
Our Emergency Manager Todd Kerkering was in the stands with 42,000 fans in Philadelphia Sunday night when his 22-year-old son Orion made his Major League Baseball debut in the 8th inning relief pitching for the Phillies.
Orion’s baseball career has been meteoric. After pitching for the University of South Florida, he jumped from playing low A ball to the Major Leagues in less than six months. And what a memorable first Major League appearance! He threw 12 pitches and retired the side 1, 2, 3 with two strikeouts.
Emergency Manager Todd Kerkering hugs his son, Orion, after his MLB debut. (Courtesy: T. Kerkering)
Back to that viral video. Todd, who is known for his reserved demeanor planning for and responding to emergency events in our community (most recently Hurricane Idalia) was highlighted as he watched those exciting moments unfold with his son on the mound. Todd's proud papa side surfaced. As Major League Baseball observed, "When your son, Orion Kerkering, makes his MLB debut and gets two strikeouts...there IS crying in baseball."
How notable is Orion’s debut? If he plays in the postseason, he would be the first Phillies pitcher to make his debut in September and pitch in the playoffs in 43 years.
Congratulations to the Kerkerings! We wish Orion a long and healthy career.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall season kicks off Saturday, Sept. 30 with The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Then there’s a lot more entertainment to follow.
On Oct. 13, come for a night of laughs! The biggest entertainment platform for teachers in the world, Bored Teachers, presents the funniest teacher-comedians in the world all on one stage. Their hilarious skits have amassed hundreds of millions of views on the internet, and they're all joining comic forces on the stage for a night of laughter. Put that red pen down, pause that Netflix series, throw on your comfiest tee, call your teacher besties, and come burn off the stress of the school year!
Then, travel back to the era of grunge, neon and Tamagotchis! Nick Carter quickly became an international pop superstar as the youngest member of the iconic boy band, Backstreet Boys. With his boyish good looks and heartthrob status, Carter's 30-year entertainment journey has extended far beyond sold-out arenas, encompassing a diverse range of projects in television, film, philanthropy, and publishing. Up next, he’ll embark on a solo tour titled “Who I Am”, coming to the Van Wezel on Oct. 20.
Tickets for both shows are currently on sale and can be purchased online at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grab your racket and get ready to serve up some frightful forehands and ghoulish backhands! Payne Park Tennis Center is hosting its first-ever Trick or Triples tennis event! Think 3-on-3. Spooky!
Mark your calendars from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Oct. 29 and prepare for a thrilling day of tennis, costumes, and surprises. Whether you're a tennis pro or just starting, this event is for everyone who loves the sport.
Dress up in your scariest or silliest costume and compete in the costume contest for a chance to win some wicked prizes sponsored by the USTA. Admission is free for PPTC pass holders and $10 for non-pass holders. (Wear a costume and save $5!) Light refreshments will be served.
Space is limited, so pre-register at https://trick-or-triples.eventbrite.com or call 941-263-6641 for more information.
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