Law enforcement will be focused on the beaches and waterways today while the community comes together for Independence Day celebrations. Sheriff’s deputies and officers, expecting an increase in boating, encourage people to act responsibly while celebrating the holiday. 

“Our Marine Unit will patrol the waterways as always, paying special attention to boaters operating vessels while under the influence,” says Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kaitlyn Perez. “Further, on land, our Traffic and DUI Units will continue to look for impaired drivers.”

Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino says similarly officers in the city will be mindful of alcohol on the water. She’s also aware that many steering vessels today aren’t experienced boaters, and should use particular precaution while navigating the waves. “Wear seatbelts to try to reduce injuries. There are more boaters so show more awareness,” DiPino says.

The chief also asked people to take precaution when drinking, whether on land or sea. Today, those drinking in the city have access to Uber and taxi services in addition to simply having a designated driver in their party. “There’s no excuse to get behind the wheel of a car buzzed,” DiPino says. “And buzzed driving is drink driving. Get a ride home.”

Perez says parents taking children to public gatherings should make sure to take a cell phone photo that shows what their kids look like today and what they are wearing incase the family gets separated and parents need help from law enforcement in finding their children. The sheriff’s office does encourage people go to enjoy the public fireworks displays rather than set off fireworks in residential areas.

And for those that will be using purchased fireworks, DiPino stressed that they be careful not to get burned, particular if children are around. She noted that even something as simple as a sparkler can badly burn a hand if the lighted end touches skin.

Longboat Key Town Hall will host the Annual Freedom Fest and Hot Diggity Dog Parade at 9am today, and the Anna Maria Island Privateers will host a parade from 10am-1pm, with an after-party at the Ugly Grouper in Holmes Beach.

The Suncoast Offshore Festival will host the Fireworks Spectacular over Sarasota Bay, visible from downtown, Bayfront Park and Island Park, with the show starting at 9pm. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will host the All American Barbecue and Independence Day Celebration from 6-10pm. The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce will also set off splays over the beach, launched from north of the volleyball courts, at 9am. In the Venice area, there will also be a fireworks display tonight visible from Venice or Nokomis Beach, fired from the south Venice Jetty.

The City of Palmetto will host a fireworks display over the Manatee River, visible from the Riverwalk in Bradenton or Palmetto. The Sandbar on Anna Maria will host its 31st annual display. North Port hosts the 13th annual Freedom Festival, starting at 6pm and running until 9:30pm, with fireworks in the evening.  

Sarasota officials will explore the future of medical marijuana dispensaries in the community over the next two months, but until then will not allow the businesses to open within the city limits. “I voted for medical marijuana; I wanted to have it in the city,” said City Commissioner Liz Alpert. “We really wanted to have dispensaries in the city sooner.”

But for the moment, commissioners have instated a ban on dispensaries, something prompted, officials said, by the legislature failing to address implementation of a new constitutional amendment until a special session this year and then requiring cities to either ban dispensaries or allow them everywhere pharmacies can be opened.

City Attorney Robert Fournier says the city needed to extend the ban or risk the prospect of dispensary owners trying to open any number of businesses in a wide array of zoning districts where planners don’t want such establishments to operate. “It would be chaos if nothing was in place,” he said. He noted the city had previously been working on an ordinance allowing dispensaries but which would put in required distances from schools, residential areas and like establishments. That wouldn’t be allowable based on the legislature’s action.

Citizens came out in force to a commission meeting Monday to speak against a ban. One mother said her young child suffers seizures best treated by medical marijuana, and a doctor said the substance would be safer that many drugs that can be acquired (or stolen) from a pharmacy.

City officials noted that since medical marijuana remains a cash business, there remains a risk of crime such as robberies around dispensaries today, part of why the city wants to better put certain zoning restrictions in place.

Commissioner Hagen Brody suggested the city may explore changing the rules on pharmacies and applying similar restrictions on the zoning for those businesses as for dispensaries. Commissioner Willie Shaw stressed he wants the city setting the course on this, not awaiting further direction from the legislature. 

Happy Fourth of July from the Provisionist* channel. New to Apricot Lane, this striped romper by In The Beginning ($44) takes you effortlessly from the beachside BBQ outing to an evening of fireworks aboard a sailboat docked in the beautiful Sarasota Bay. Full of flowing motion, this delicate, lace-up romper puts a contemporary twist on a classic nautical stripe that will turn heads this Independence Day. Survive the hot humidity of Florida with an all-in-one outfit that keeps you cool. Show your stripes and pop by Apricot Lane on St. Armands just in time for the Fourth. 

Apricot Lane Boutique, 464 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236. 941-960-1435

Apricot Lane

Hitting the beach in the Sarasota summertime, sunscreen won’t always cut it when it comes to protecting sensitive skin—and few look stylish rocking the Zinc Nose look—but with the right hat from Treat Boutique, enjoy the sunshine with none of the burn. Floppy and fun, with cheeky and beachy catchphrases like “bon voyage” and “talk to the sand” embroidered on the brim, these hats from C.C. Exclusive offer ample protection for the face and neck while being easily dressed up for a noontime stroll through St. Armands or a afternoon reading session on the beach. Made from 100 percent paper but looking like straw, they may not be great for fighting brushfires, but they’ll beat the heat with the best of them on July 4th. 

Photo by Phil Lederer.

Treat Boutique, 530 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, 941-366-6369.

Manatee County Pretrial Release has become one of three Florida agencies to achieve state accreditation for both pretrial and probation services through the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission. Accreditation has helped county operations become more streamlined and consistent and it assures employees that every aspect of the agency’s personnel system is in compliance with professional standards. Morale of the agency is enhanced by increasing the employees’ confidence in the effectiveness and efficiency of their own agency. Manatee County's four probation officers screen approximately 300 clients per month for pretrial release, so clients who cannot afford bond will not be required to stay in jail. Manatee's 15 probation officers supervise an average of 1,200 clients per month, on pretrial release and misdemeanor probation. Cheri Coryea, director of Manatee County Neighborhood and Community Services added that accreditation bolsters confidence throughout the local criminal justice system.   

Manatee County Pretrial Release Services

The Haven, an established non-profit with a legacy of over 60-years in the community to provide programs and services for children and adults with disabilities, has been awarded $250,000 through Able Trust’s Strategic Employment Placement Initiatives grant. Funding from this grant will help support The Haven’s Careers Without Limits program. The disability-neutral program supports students residing in Sarasota-Manatee counties with varying types and degrees of physical, sensory, developmental, learning, mental health and/or multiple disabilities. Careers Without Limits assists currently enrolled individuals at State College of Florida and/or University of South Florida-Sarasota/Manatee, the two largest educational institutions in the region, in their transition from post-secondary education to long-term employment by providing counseling, training and placement services. 

The Haven