Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/146256
Sarasota News Leader July 26, 2013 Page 59 MASTER GARDENERS GIVE BACK TO SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS The Sarasota County Master Gardeners, a volunteer group working through Sarasota County Extension, has completed a beautification project at the Oak Park School, 7285 Proctor Road in Sarasota, the county has announced. The project was completed by Master Gardener Bonnie Feise and her husband, George, with help from Oak Park School teacher Carol Wojtyna. The Feises have a grandson "who is challenged with Asperger's syndrome," the release notes, and Wojtyna's daughter is a gradOak Park School serves more than 300 special uate of the school. needs students. To improve the landscaping at the school's entrance and bus drop-off sites, the Master Gardeners put in four large urns filled with snowbush and impatiens as well as a 48-footlong picket fence backed by podocarpus bushes and fronted with knockout rose bushes, a news release says. Another entrance has been lined with areca palms. The project received support from a Sarasota County Master Gardener grant, as well as contributions from community leaders and local businesses, including Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, Troy's Nursery, Albritton's Nursery, Treasure Cove Statuary and St. Thomas More Catholic Church, the release says. POLICE DEPARTMENT HONORED IN STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGE The Sarasota Police Department won several awards in its size category during the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge 2012, the department has announced. This is the first time the agency has placed since it began reporting statistics, a news release says. The department was honored during a ceremony on July 19 in Orlando. reducing traffic-related crashes, injuries and fatalities. As part of those initiatives, the department's traffic officers have developed a zone system, the release continues. When a complaint comes in, the officer responsible for the zone in question "conducts a study of the area to find out if other traffic officers need to be involved," the release notes. Statistics show a reduction in the number of complaints being received because of that action, the release points out. The Police Department received second- and third-place honors in the Click It or Ticket category; it was competing against 38 other law enforcement agencies with 151 to 250 officers Chief Bernadette DiPino added in the release, each, the release notes. "Traffic safety is public safety! I am so proud of our officers, especially our Traffic Unit, unBy developing comprehensive programs and der the leadership of Sgt. Robert Resch. It was taking part in traffic and safety events such a great honor to receive these awards in the as Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get presence of a room full of our peers. Officer Pulled Over, "the Sarasota Police Department Tim Bales, Sgt. Resch and I proudly accepted is making significant and positive impacts" in the Eagle trophies on behalf of the Sarasota the community, the release continues, as it is Police Department."