Sarasota, Florida  - A group of 49 adult and student Bay Guardian volunteers with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) planted 3,500 Florida native plants at a shoreline area on Perico Preserve Saturday, May 4. The plants were donated by Manatee County Natural Resources and FWC Redfish Hatchery at Port Manatee. Other project partners included Around the Bend Nature Tours and Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton. King Middle School was honored with an SBEP Blue Dolphin Award in 2012 to acknowledge the school's commitment to supporting local environmental projects.

Sarasota, Florida - The Sarasota County Commission has approved a plan to improve pedestrian safety at Siesta Key Village. The Commission approved a plan to buy and install light emitting diode (LED) crosswalk bollards for the Village.

The 14 decorative signs will be installed at seven crosswalks in the village. They're designed to enhance crosswalk and pedestrian visibility. The project is estimated to cost $72,000.

Sarasota, Florida -- Located on the Northeast corner of Bee Ridge and McIntosh in Sarasota lives the Muse Galleria, a unique art boutique filled with “art creations for everyday people.” The gallery exists to bring together local artists with the local shopping community. All art is hand-made from a variety of mediums, often from repurposed materials.