Sarasota News Leader

01/02/2026

Those of you who regularly drive on State Road 789 between downtown Sarasota and St. Armands and/or Longboat Key need to know about the construction that will begin on Monday, Jan. 5. This is an advisory from FDOT:

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will begin construction on S.R. 789 from Bird Key Drive to Sunset Drive in Sarasota on Monday, January 5, 2026. The project will include the addition of dedicated bicycle and transit lanes on the bridge, drainage upgrades, and raising the seawall cap near Sunset Drive. Among other project activities will be the resurfacing of the roadway throughout the project corridor and the installation of new traffic signals at the intersections of Sunset Drive, Golden Gate Drive, and Bird Key Drive. The project also includes relocating palm trees and small shrubs from their current locations on the eastern area of the John Ringling Causeway to medians closer to St. Armands Circle.

OnJan. 5, crews will begin mobilizing construction equipment, including delivery of machinery and materials, installing Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) signs and devices, temporary pedestrian paths around the work zone and clearing within the right of way and placing erosion-control devices.

Lane closures will be in place during various phases of the project. Initial pre-phase work involves building a temporary roadway for use during subsequent phases. This work will not impact existing travel lane configuration.

Construction will primarily take place during daytime hours, with occasional nighttime work. Expect noise from backup alarms, construction equipment, pumps, and power tools during daytime and nighttime operations.

During construction, the speed limit on Gulfstream Avenue and John Ringling Causeway (S.R. 789) will be reduced to 35 mph. Speeding fines are doubled in the construction zone when workers are present. Motorists are urged to drive cautiously and watch for workers, construction vehicles, pickup trucks, and other equipment entering or exiting travel lanes. The $12.3 million project is expected to be completed in early 2027.

01/01/2026

This is an aerial view of downtown Sarasota about 30 minutes before the Pineapple drop on New Year's Eve. Many thanks to the Sarasota Police Department (https://www.facebook.com/SarasotaPoliceDepartment) for this photo.

12/29/2025

The Sarasota Police Department is providing information about the New Year's Eve activities in downtown Sarasota in an effort to help everyone enjoy the holiday and remain safe:

The men and women of the Sarasota Police Department are encouraging residents and visitors to avoid driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and to refrain from discharging fi****ms in the air to celebrate the arrival of 2026.

The annual Pineapple Drop will take place at midnight in downtown Sarasota at the intersection of Lemon Avenue and Main Street, followed by a fireworks show over the Bayfront. The Sarasota Police Department asks those planning to attend the festivities to leave backpacks, coolers and alcohol at home.

Some individuals celebrate the arrival of the new year by firing a weapon into the air. This practice, known as celebratory gunfire, is dangerous and illegal. What goes up must come down. A bullet fired into the air will eventually fall and the unintended consequences can be tragic. It is against the law to discharge a firearm in the City of Sarasota. Violators can expect to be arrested.

If your holiday celebrations include consuming alcohol, make plans not to drive while impaired. Safer and less expensive transportation options include using a designated driver, taking a taxi or using AAA’s free Tow to Go service. In Sarasota, Tow to Go is available by calling 1-855-2-TOW-2-GO (1-855-286-9246). Tow to Go is available through 6 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2. The Sarasota Police Department will have an increased presence and there will be zero tolerance for impaired driving.

Several roads will be closed for the annual Pineapple Drop on Dec. 31, 2025. Vehicles not removed by the posted time will be towed at the owner’s expense. For information on towed vehicles, call Upman’s Towing at 941-365-7084.

Drivers should expect traffic delays on Bayfront Drive, the John Ringling Bridge and throughout downtown beginning around 6 p.m. on Dec. 31. The following road closures will be in effect for the Pineapple Drop between Dec. 29, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026:

4 a.m. Dec. 30 to 4 a.m. Jan. 1:
Pineapple Avenue from First Street to the roundabout
First Street from Pineapple Avenue to Central Avenue
Central Avenue from First Street to the roundabout

4 a.m. Dec. 31 to 9 a.m. Jan. 1:
Main Street from Orange Avenue to Palm Avenue
Lemon Avenue from First Street to State Street

12/21/2025

Planning on buying your child an e-bike this Christmas? Please read this important guest column from the Florida Bicycle Association.

Copyright © 2012-25 – The Sarasota News Leader. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission of the publisher.

12/20/2025

https://wp.me/p2mGzH-jut

This letter to the editor is getting an extraordinary number of views:

Copyright © 2012-25 – The Sarasota News Leader. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission of the publisher.

12/12/2025

The inside eastbound lane of Clark Road from west of the Honore Avenue intersection to just west of the Gantt Road intersection will be closed from Wednesday, Dec. 17, through Dec. 23, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has announced.

The closure is necessary so crews can construct a concrete median separator, and a curb and gutter, an FDOT advisory explains.

Thus, only two through lanes remain open on eastbound Clark Road in that area, the advisory points out.

“Motorists may wish to avoid the area or allow for additional travel time,” FDOT adds.

The length of the affected part of Clark Road is 0.44 miles, as shown on an FDOT project webpage. On that page, FDOT says the full initiative involves milling, resurfacing and the installation of curbs, gutters, drainage and pavement markings on Clark Road (State Road 72) from Honore Avenue to west of Gantt Road. The project’s estimated cost is $5 million, with completion expected in mid-2026.

For real-time traffic updates, visit https://fl

12/10/2025

For everyone who read about the situation with the Blackburn Point Swing Bridge earlier this afternoon, we have great news from the county:


Repairs to the Blackburn Point Swing Bridge have been completed. The bridge has returned to normal operations. Thank you to the community for your patience while the repairs were completed.

12/10/2025

Another beloved holiday tradition in Sarasota County will take place this weekend:

“Sarasota Bay will come alive with festive lights and holiday cheer this Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.,” as the 39th Annual Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights takes place, the nonprofit Suncoast Charities for Children has announced.

Thirty “brightly decorated boats will glide past Marina Jack and Bayfront Park, creating a dazzling display for families and visitors of all ages,” a news release notes.

The best viewing, the release points out, will be from Bayfront Park, located at 5 Bayfront Drive, on the west side of U.S. 41 in downtown Sarasota.” No admission fee is required.

“This annual event is organized by Suncoast Charities for Children, in partnership with Marina Jack and City of Sarasota,” the release explains. Members of the public are “encouraged to spread holiday joy by making a cash donation, which will be matched up to $10,000,” the release adds, “thanks to the generosity” of The Reinhart Foundation.

Alternatively, donations of new, unwrapped books and toys for children up to age 12 will be welcome, the release points out.
Cash donations may be made online at suncoastcharitiesforchildren.org, the release notes, while donation boxes are located at Marina Jack Restaurant, O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Grill in the City of Sarasota’s Bayfront Park, Lake Michigan Credit Union, and the Starbucks standing at 5329 Fruitville Road.

Suncoast Charities for Children provides funding support for “critical programs and services” offered by Children First, The Haven, The Florida Center for Early Childhood, the Loveland Center, the Special Olympics, and Venice Challenger Baseball, the release adds.

“This holiday tradition is about more than lights and boats,” said Lucy Nicandri, executive director of Suncoast Charities for Children, in the release. “It is about bringing joy to local children, teens, and adults with special needs and their families,” she added.

“We’re grateful to Nick and Jourdan Reinhart, of The Reinhart Foundation, for helping us maximize every donation, ensuring the holidays are brighter for so many in our community,” Nicandri also noted.

For more information, visit suncoastcharitiesforchildren.org.

12/10/2025

This is very important information from Sarasota County staff about the Blackburn Point Swing Bridge. It was just released a short while ago:

Urgent repairs are underway on the Blackburn Point Swing Bridge to replace critical bearings in its opening and closing mechanism.

This work may take several days.

The bridge may be closed to traffic intermittently because of the difficulty of removing the shaft.

When possible, the bridge will be opened manually during repairs.

Boaters may experience delays while crews work to replace the bearings.

Motorists are encouraged to use Albee Road Bridge.

12/09/2025

If you are looking for a wonderful way to bring holiday cheer to children whose families have to contend with significant financial constraints, consider this annual program of the Sarasota Police Department:

The Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA), the Sarasota Police Department, Target and Sarasota County’s Breeze Transit program are partnering to provide 125 underprivileged children with a unique holiday experience — the opportunity to “Shop with a Cop” for holiday gifts in Sarasota, the Police Department has announced.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, staff of the Sarasota Housing Authority will pair the children with Sarasota Police officers at the Target standing at 5350 Fruitville Road in Sarasota, a news release notes. Then the shopping will take place from 6 to 8 a.m.

“For almost 15 years, our collaboration with the Sarasota Housing Authority on the Shop with a Cop program has been a powerful reminder of why we serve,” said Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche in the release. “Sharing this experience with children, helping them choose gifts, hearing their stories and being a part of their holiday joy, is something our officers and civilian employees cherish each year,” Troche added in the release.

“This special event showcases SHA’s commitment to providing positive, uplifting experiences for our youth, while promoting mutual respect with our Sarasota Police partners," said Sarasota Housing Authority CEO William Russell in the release. “Many of our kids who have participated in past events reminisce about what a positive experience it was to shop with and get to know SPD officers,” Russell pointed out.

The Sarasota Housing Authority raises more than $19,000 for this event through its 501(c)(3) affiliate, the Sarasota Housing Funding Corp., the release explains. This year’s event will be made possible through donations by Communities Unified, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Target, the First Horizon Foundation and other, private donors, the release adds.
Vivian Hugill and Karsyn Robbins, sisters of the two young women who founded the charity Communities Unified, have talked about how the program remains meaningful to them, the release continued.

“I was very young when our sisters started Communities Unified, and it has been exciting to watch it develop and grow,” Hugill said. “I am very proud to be part of this and look forward to continuing to support our community,” she added. “

“It’s great to be a part of Shop with a Cop,” Robbins said. “I love seeing the Sarasota Police Department build relationships with children and families in the Sarasota community,” she added.

“Donations provide Target gift cards that Sarasota Police officers and civilian employees will use at checkout for each of the 125 children,” the release explains. “Those wishing to donate to the event can do so through the Sarasota Housing Funding Corp. (SHFC), the release notes. Checks may be made payable to the Sarasota Housing Funding Corporation with “Shop with a Cop” in the memo line, the release says. Checks or cash donations may be dropped off at the Sarasota Housing Authority, which stands at 269 S. Osprey Ave. in Sarasota, the release points out.

For more information, contact the Sarasota Housing Authority at 941-361-6210, ext. 221.

12/03/2025

If you plan to drive around downtown Sarasota on Saturday and/or Sunday — Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 — you need to know about the street closures planned for the annual Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade:

The parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., beginning at the intersection of Main Street and U.S. 301 and ending at J.D. Hamel Park at the intersection of Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue, the Sarasota Police Department is reminding the public.

“Multiple street closures and vehicle tow-away zones will be in effect during the following times and locations, a news release points out:

7 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Main Street closed from U.S. 301 to U.S. 41.
7 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Main Street closed from Orange Avenue to Osprey Avenue.
11 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Main Street closed from U.S. 41 to Orange Avenue.
Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Main Street closed from U.S. 301 to School Avenue.
Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Fletcher Avenue closed from Main Street to Fruitville Road.
Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Wallace Avenue closed from Main Street to Fruitville Road.
Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — East Avenue closed from Fruitville Road to Ringling Boulevard.
Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — School Avenue closed from Main Street to Fruitville Road.
Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Audubon Place closed from Main Street to Fruitville Road.
Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — First Street closed from Audubon Place to East Avenue
2:30 p.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Lemon Avenue closed from First Street to Main Street.
3 p.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Gulfstream Avenue closed from U.S. 41 to McAnsh Square.
5:30 p.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday — Fruitville Road to Ringling Boulevard.
The roads will reopen after the end of the parade reaches a two-block distance from each point of closure, the release adds.

“Vehicles not removed by the posted time will be towed at the owner’s expense,” the release stresses. For information on towed vehicles, contact Upman’s Towing at 941-365-7084.

12/01/2025

Sarasota County staff has just announced that a community meeting will be held tomorrow, Dec. 2, on the restored Midnight Pass on south Siesta Key:

Sarasota County staff will host the event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, which stands at 7112 Curtiss Ave. in Sarasota. The event will offer an overview of Midnight Pass, with updates on the current status of the inlet. The speakers will address coastal engineering, water flow and circulation, and coastal research.

The guest speakers will be as follows:
Noah Valenstein, JD, Brightwater Strategies Group
Ping Wang, PhD, University of South Florida
Mike Jenkins, PhD, Geosyntec Consultants
Steve Peene, PhD, Geosyntec Consultants

Registration is available at: https://forms.office.com/g/JcqMZP5fTi

Learn more about Midnight Pass here: https://www.scgov.net/government/planning-and-development-services/midnight-pass -image-1