The Gulf of Mexico

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Bradenton, Florida

Quick: What state has snarly traffic, endless miles of beachfront high-rises and throngs of college students arriving every year for spring break? Did you say Florida? Is that your final answer?

 Then maybe you should check out Bradenton, a first-class beach town that could never be confused with timeworn Florida retirement destinations like Fort Lauderdale or Miami Beach. Nestled on the west coast of Florida at the southern edge of Tampa Bay, Bradenton has 27 miles of spectacular white sand beaches, including those on nearby Anna Maria Island. There's access to river, bay and Gulf fishing, and the Gulf of Mexico ensures plenty of wind if sailing's your thing. And there are no hulking condos.

Bradenton boasts scores of well-maintained retirement communities, but many seniors here instead prefer to live in single-family homes surrounded by canals and bays.

Clearly, if you like sun and surf, this is the place. And if you're a sports fan, look no further. Tampa - where you can catch the Lightning, the Buccaneers or the Devil Rays - is less than an hour's drive. And eight professional baseball teams come to the area for spring training, including the Pittsburgh Pirates (who train in Bradenton proper), the Cincinnati Reds (in nearby Sarasota) and the New York Yankees (in Tampa). Bradenton also has 24 golf courses, a host of theaters and a number of art galleries.

George and Joan Morse, 59 and 58, respectively, spend summers in New Hampshire to avoid the scorching Florida heat. But they can't imagine staying in New England year round. They love the beaches, sailing and fishing here. And George Morse gets to see his beloved Red Sox during spring training. The only drawback?


Poker Run boats take off on the intracoastal.

"Our granddaughter lives in Massachusetts and we miss her," says George Morse. The upside is that she likes to visit, especially since Disney World is only an hour and a half away.

 Like the Morses, Hugh and Patricia Joyner, 58 and 55, retired to Bradenton in 1999 from New England - in their case, Westport, Conn. They came for the balmy weather and the sailing, but felt reassured by several first-rate hospitals nearby. Still, the Joyners' theater subscriptions, museum visits and volunteer work tutoring underprivileged school kids leaves them little time to sit still - or to sail. It's not exactly a conventional retirement of rest and relaxation, but that's okay. Says Hugh: "I'm as busy as I ever was." He'll slow down when he's good and ready. - N.P.

Editors Note: Our Town 50+

Sarasota and Bradenton are next door neighbors. Having lived in the Sarasota, Bradenton area for over 21 years, the Northeast, and Portland, Oregon (voted the best larger city), most of the glitter on this page is true. If you are tired of the cold, the gray, and want to brighten up your life with sunshine and an aqua ocean, then either Sarasota,Bradenton or Venice may be a place for you. Today both areas welcome with open arms new clean (green) companies that help spread the tax base more equably. "It's a great life" as Jimmy Stewart would say. Most of the hype is true. The school system in Sarasota claims to be the best in the Florida. We suggest you compare it to national figures and the area where you live. There are trade offs in each town. Venice which 15 minutes south of Sarasota isn't a bad place either.

Manatee County Information
 

Emergency Services

Access Center Helpline 741-3117
American Red Cross 792-8686
Coast Guard 794-1607
Emergency Ambulance, Fire, Police 911
Emergency Management 748-4501
Humane Society 747-8808
Poison Control 1-800-282-3171
Spouse Abuse Information 755-6805
Wildlife Rescue Service 750-9453

Police Departments
Non-Emergency Numbers

Florida Highway Patrol Bradenton Post 751-7647
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office 747-3011
Anna Maria Island Police Department 778-4711
Bradenton Police Department 708-6273
Bradenton Beach Police Department 778-6311
Holmes Beach Police Department 708-5804
Longboat Key Police Department 316-1977
Palmetto Police Department 723-4585

Fire Departments
Non-Emergency Numbers

Anna Maria Fire Department 741-3900
Bradenton Fire Department 708-6233
Braden River Fire Department 751-5611
Cedar Hammock Fire Department 751-7090
Duette Volunteer Fire Department 776-1782
Longboat Key Fire Department 383-5666
Myakka City Fire Department 322-2292
North River Fire District, Palmetto 722-3331
Parrish Fire Department 776-1459
Southern Manatee Fire-Rescue District 751-7675
Trailer Estates Fire Department 758-6453
Whitfield Fire Department 355-2013

Art and Culture

Art League of Manatee County 746-2862

Artist's Guild 746-4469

Arts Council of Manatee 708-3896
Asolo Center for the Performing Arts 351-9010
Bishop Planetarium 746-4131
DeSoto National Memorial 792-0458
Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum 365-5738
Gamble Plantation State Historic Site 723-4536
John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art 359-5700
Lemily & Son International Art Gallery 727-1146
Longboat Key Art Center 383-2345
Manatee Community College Fine Art Gallery 755-1511 x4251
Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre 748-5875
Manatee Village Historical Park 749-7165
Mote Marine Science Aquarium 388-4200
Selby Gardens’ Museum of Botany & the Arts 366-5730
Sweet Adelines 794-6252
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall 953-3366

Village of the Arts 795-6499

Business Information

Better Business Council 748-1325
Economic Development Council 748-3411  Fax 745-1877
Manatee Chamber of Commerce 748-3411  Fax 745-1877
Internet: www.ManateeChamber.com
E-mail: Info@ManateeChamber.com

Civic Center and Auditoriums

Bradenton Municipal Auditorium 708-6220
Manatee Convention & Civic Center 722-3244
Neel Auditorium, Manatee Comm. College 755-1511 x4240

Education

Public Schools Administrative Offices 741-7200
Manatee Vocational-Technical Center 751-7900

Colleges and Universities
Eckerd College 957-3397

International College 906-8627

Manatee Community College

   Main Campus 755-1511
   South Campus 493-3504
National-Louis University 1-800-366-6581

Ringling School of Art & Design 351-5100
University of Sarasota 379-0404

University of South Florida

   USF/Sarasota 359-4310
   New College 359-4200

Webster University 365-7040

Government/State
Deep Water Port

Port Manatee/Tampa Bay 722-6621
Insurance & Treasurer Consumer Hotline 1-800-342-2762

Jobs and Benefits 741-3030
Proof of Residency Clerk of Court 741-4040

Property Appraiser 748-8208

Tax Collector/Tag Offices

819 US 301 Blvd., Bradenton 741-4800
415 10th St. W., Bradenton 741-4800

1341 US Hwy. 301, Palmetto 741-4800

3840 East Bay Dr., Holmes Beach 741-4800

Driver’s License

1600 First St. W., Bradenton

   Information 741-3010
   Appointments 741-3015

Manatee County

Animal Control 742-5933
General Information 748-4501
Clerk of Circuit Court 749-1800  Fax 749-7194
Library Services 748-5555  Fax 749-7191
Parks & Recreation 742-5923  Fax 749-7172
Sheriff’s Office 747-3011  Fax 749-5401
Voter Registration 741-3823 Fax 741-3820

Government/City
Anna Maria City Hall

10005 Gulf Drive 708-6130  Fax 708-6134

Bradenton City Hall

101 Old Main Street 708-6200  Fax 708-6256

Bradenton Beach City Hall

107 Gulf Dr. North 778-1005  Fax 778-7585

Holmes Beach City Hall

5901 Marina Drive 708-5800  Fax 708-5812

Longboat Key Town Hall

501 Bay Isles Road 316-1999

Palmetto City Hall

516 Eighth Avenue West 723-4570  Fax 729-9177

Health Care

Elder Helpline 742-5818
Columbia Blake Medical Center 792-6611 or 798-6140
Health Department 748-0747

Kid Care 748-0747 x1250

Manatee County Dental Society 755-4860
Manatee County Medical Society 755-3411
Manatee County Public Health Clinics 748-0666
Manatee Memorial Hospital 746-5111 or 745-7233
VA Clinic - Ellenton 721-0649

Libraries

Central Library 748-5555
Braden River Branch 727-6079
Island Branch 778-6341
Palmetto Branch 722-3333
Rocky Bluff Branch 723-4821
South Manatee Branch 755-3892

Other Services
Community Connections

Manatee Aging Network 753-4149
Neighborly Senior Services 758-9969

Manatee Religious Services 753-6749
Volunteer Services 746-7117

Post Office

1-800-275-8777
www.usps.gov

Sports and Recreation

Blackstone Park 722-9053
Buffalo Creek Golf Course 776-2611

Duette Park 776-2295
East Bradenton Center 742-5948
G T Bray Activity Center 742-5974
G T Bray Administration 742-5923
G T Bray Aquatic Center 742-5932
G T Bray Gymnasium 742-5926

G T Bray Softball Complex 792-9816
G T Bray Walton Racquet Center 742-5973
Manatee County Golf Course 792-6773
Palma Sola Park Softball 792-9005

Rye Wilderness 776-0900
75th Street Park 792-9808

YMCA Outpost 753-0954

Others

Anna Maria Island Little League 778-1908

Braden River Little League 794-3070

Braden River Soccer Club 756-2034

Bradenton Horseshoe Club 739-2387

Bradenton Shuffleboard Club 747-6184

East Manatee Bulldogs Football 758-8544

Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization 794-3159

Manatee County Babe Ruth League 753-7004

Manatee County Church Softball Association 755-3009

Manatee East Little League 747-4996

Manatee East Soccer 744-0320

Manatee Lightning Soccer 795-0670

Manatee Magic Soccer 795-0670

Manatee West Little League 794-1512

Manatee Wildcats Football 746-3021 or 798-3235

North River Little League - American 723-9760

North River Little League - National 721-9008

North River Soccer 729-3071

Pram Sailing 722-3140

13th Avenue Little League 746-7470

Westside United Soccer 792-1947

Professional Sports

Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball 747-3031
Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Football 800-282-0683
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Baseball 727-825-3100
Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Hockey 813-229-8800
Tampa Bay Mutiny Soccer 813-288-0096

Transportation

Greyhound Bus Lines 747-2984
Manatee County Area Transit 749-5916
Commercial & Cruise Lines - Manatee County Port Authority 722-6621
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport Information Line 359-5200

Utilities

Bradenton Public Works 708-6300
Manatee County Utilities 792-8811
Palmetto Public Works 723-4580

Water, Sewer, Garbage Service
Unincorporated areas

Manatee County Public Utilities 792-8811
after hours 795-5457

Electricity*

Florida Power & Light Co. 917-0708
Peace River Electric Coop 722-2729
*Service determined by area. Call with either former occupant’s name, or serial number on front of electric meter.

Natural Gas

TECO People's Gas System 366-4277
(Hook-ups available in metropolitan Bradenton, Palmetto, and some rural areas.)

Telephone

Verizon*
   Business 800-483-5200
   Residential 800-483-4200
*Serves all county residents.

Sunset in Sarasota

Forbes The Best Ten Cities for Jobs

1. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL
2. Las Vegas, NV
3. Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
4. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL
5. Daytona Beach, FL
6. Sarasota-Bradenton, FL

New College ranks in top 5 of U.S. News & World Magazine college listings.

Thinking of moving to Sarasota, Bradenton or Venice. Email us for information.
publisher@ourtown50.com
 

New Florida Drivers License
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/html
/dlnew.html

Location for Sarasota drivers license offices.
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/
offices/sarasota.html

There are 35 miles of pristine white sand beaches just minutes away from Rose and Richard Elliott's three-bedroom home in Sarasota, Fla. But you'd never know it by talking to them. "Of course, there are beaches," says Elliott, 52. "But we hardly ever go to them. There's just so much else to do down here."

This office building downtown Sarasota sports a gorgeous view of Sarasota Bay and Marina Jacks's marina.

* "I'll build you a rose garden". No we'll build you more condos to live in as baby boomers flood SW Florida.

Selby Gardens

Van Wezel

To become an official Florida resident, file a declaration of domicile.  The document states that you reside at a certain address and is notarized by the Clerk of the County Court.  Contact the Sarasota County Clerk of Circuit Courts, 2000 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 362-4066. 

You can reduce your ad valorem tax bill by seeking a homestead exemption on the first $25,000 of your home's value.  To file for exemption, establish residency by Dec. 31 prior to the year you will claim exemption, then file for exemption in January or February.  You may prove residency with a voter registration card, a valid Florida driver's license and titles and registration certificates for motor vehicles you own.  To prove that your residency was established in the required timeframe, provide a recorded deed for the home or a vehicle registration/title for a mobile home.  Contact the Sarasota County Property Appraiser  at 2001 Adams Lane (941) 951-5650.

To vote, you must register in your county of residence.  You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, county resident and at least 18 years old by the next election.  To register, fill out a form and swear an oath that you live in the county.  Your voter registration card will be mailed to you before the next election.  For information on registration locations near you, call the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office at 101 S. Washington. (941) 951-5307.

Florida law requires that new state residents apply for a Florida driver's license within 30 days.  Register your car, first (see Vehicle Registration, above).  The Department of Motor Vehicles will need to see proof of your Florida vehicle registration, your out-of-state driver's license and your social security card.  If you own a Florida-registered vehicle, bring the registration, as well.  If your out-of-state license is valid, you need only take a vision test.  A written exam and driver's test is required if your license is invalid or if you are applying for your first license.  The written exam is based on the Florida Driver's Handbook and the driver must supply the vehicle for the test.  A license is valid for six years and costs $20.  Contact the driver license office at 601 S. Pompano Ave., (941) 361-6217, or call (941) 361-6222 for an appointment.  

New residents must register their vehicles in Florida within 10 days of gaining employment or enrolling children in school.  To register a vehicle, be prepared to provide the Sarasota County Tax Collector's office with your current driver's license, proof of Florida auto insurance, prior registration certificate and ownership title.  The vehicle identification number will be verified, and you will need to apply for a Florida license plate.  The fee depends on the vehicle's weight.  Newcomers also must apply for a Florida Title Certificate if there is a lien on the vehicle; you should bring your payment book to the Tax Collector's office.  Contact the Sarasota Tax Collector 101 S. Washington, (941) 362-9898.

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