Clock ticking on historic buildings at Warm Mineral Springs. Let's move to save them.
Seek way to preserve history at Springs
We couldn't agree more with the guest column by Florida historian Rick Kilby (“Don’t demolish Warm Mineral Springs’ historic buildings," March 21).
The Warm Mineral Springs complex holds enormous archaeological, recreational, geological and historical significance. The three city-owned buildings on the site are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the clock is ticking as North Port leaders pursue demolition of the hurricane-damaged complex.
The city commission may feel it is out of options as a public-private partnership collapsed earlier this year.
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The federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief funds awarded by Housing and Urban Development to Sarasota County were intended for rehabilitation projects such as this one; unfortunately, North Port missed the deadline to receive this money.
But we believe there are other viable options to help preserve the complex and the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation stands ready to help.
Dave Baber, president, Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, Sarasota
Arroyo should have disclosed conflict
Follow the money: Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo has been on the payroll of HSK/Park Golf LLC for more than a year as a registered agent.
He signed the company’s 2023 and 2024 reports. I have never known a registered agent who works for free.
In February, Arroyo put a presentation on the commission agenda and co-presented a plan to make Ken Thompson into an amusement park in a public/private partnership. But Arroyo never mentioned that he had an interest in the proposal as a registered agent for Park Golf.
Of course, no one asked Arroyo whether he had any interest in the proposal that he put on the agenda and helped to sell. And the city attorney, Robert Fournier, has said he sees nothing unethical about failing to disclose this relationship. Give me a break.
Tom Schwartz, Sarasota
Protecting land, developing land
Someone please help me out with this bit of irony:
Manatee County is spending $16 million to protect 98 acres of waterfront land from development (Herald-Tribune, March 13), while the city of Sarasota wants to dive headfirst into a for-profit theme venue in Ken Thompson Park.
I used to think Sarasota was the environmentally progressive place to live.
Now I wonder.
Elliott Himelfarb, Sarasota
Assist caregivers with heavy burden
Dementia caregivers in our community need help.
According to a new report from the Florida chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association, there are now 840,000 of our neighbors, family members and friends in Florida serving as unpaid family caregivers.
Many caregivers here in Sarasota have given up full-time jobs to become caregivers for their relatives, while others continue working full time in addition to caregiving.
The additional responsibilities can lead to decreased productivity in the workplace, depression and anxiety.
If you know any caregivers, ask them how they are doing. Check in on them and offer to help, even if it’s the littlest task. Be that voice that reminds caregivers that they are seen and appreciated and should remember to take care of themselves as well.
We must ensure caregivers know that resources exist in our community to help navigate the challenges of caregiving. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida chapters provide a 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 to help address caregiving challenges, answer questions about Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, and more.
Andrea LoPiccolo, Bradenton
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Don't give up on saving history at Warm Mineral Springs
