Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/100825
Sarasota News Leader December 28, 2012 Deputy Chief Tonya Vincent had no familiarity in collective bargaining with a police union. Chief Bernadette DiPino had spent 12 years struggling with a union. The decision was City Manager Barwin���s alone. He had been in office seven weeks. On Oct. 16, he announced at a press conference that DiPino was his choice. DiPino will begin work on Jan. 1. Current Chief Mikel Hollaway agreed to extend his tenure to Dec. 31, from Oct. 31. ��������� The Sarasota County School Board chambers has a standing-room-only audience as supporters of three charter schools up for approval await the board���s decision. On a unanimous vote, Sarasota Academy of the Arts wins the board���s approval. The other two applicants ��� The Classical Academy of Sarasota and the Florida Center for Early Childhood Starfish Academy ��� are voted down. ���Being a charter school gives us the opportunity to expose more children to the arts and affords more students in the community a chance to participate in the arts in a small school setting,��� Page 64 says Cecilia Blankenship, the new principal of Sarasota Academy of the Arts. Kathryn Shea, president of the Starfish Academy, says, ���We respect the decision of the board. The last thing I want to have happen is to start this and fail.��� Shea said she plans to make changes in the school plans, as recommended by Sarasota County district staff and the board, and apply again next year. OCT. 17 After owning a house on Siesta Key for a couple of years, Anthony and Cheri Bonasto finally decided during the summer to make the island their full-time home. Instead of just puttering around as retirees, they also decided to build upon the experiences they gained as caterers in Houston to start a foodtruck business in Siesta Village. ���We���ve been watching this industry just kind of explode,��� Cheri Bonasto tells The Sarasota New Leader. ���We���re giving it a shot.��� The Bonastos have applied for a temporary use permit to open It is standing room only in the audience for the Sarasota County School Board���s vote on three new charter school applications. Photo by Scott Proffitt