Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/119978
Easter may mark the traditional end of high season in these parts, but — fortunately for us — plenty of interesting things continue to happen. For example, this week, Cooper Levey-Baker reports on an initiative gaining momentum that would see the county charter amended to create non-partisan County Commission races. That surely will spark a lot of discussion. Stan Zimmerman had his hands full not only with a regular City Commission meeting but with vandalism at the Ringling Shopping Center —where Walmart wants to build a Supercenter — exciting news for "Tube Dude" creator Scott Gerber and a vote on the future of the St. Armands Business Improvement District. Additionally, Stan took off his City Editor's cap to begin a series this week on Florida's early history, based on a chapter in his latest book. Scott Proffitt took time to delve into the world of media specialists in the Sarasota County Schools. Budget constraints have those people's jobs on the line, but they make a very good case that they are far more than librarians. A Sarasota County staff report on new impact fees provided some good fodder for me to tackle this week. The County Commission will be tackling them in-depth, too, in about a month. And as usual, plenty was happening on Siesta Key — from vandalism in a beach-nesting bird buffer area to more talk of code enforcement in the Village. On the lighter side, Tyler Whitson's article on Eat Local Week should have you checking out the farmers' markets if you do not do so already, and Otus lets us into the intriguing world of "Toe-Biters." Editor and Publisher