For the record: Coverage of the Nov. 6 decision to protect the Quads

Drone shot courtesy of Emanuel Guzman

My Suncoast  11.07.19 Public lands near Celery Fields - at least three of the four - to be conserved 

Adrien Lucas: We won - but Gabbert's WTF needs to be watched

Sarasota News Leader: Conservation easement to be placed on three of county’s Quads parcels adjacent to the Celery Fields

Herald Tribune: Board agrees to save Quads

Observer Protesters want undeveloped Celery Fields as County Commission approves Easement  (not just "protesters," Matt Walsh)

Link: Roundtable: John McCarthy, Adrien Lucas, David Johnson and Tom Matrullo with Bill Logan 

More here

Last Stand Protest, Nov. 2, at the public parcels near the Celery Fields

Board Meets Wed. Nov. 6 to address rezoning possibly to industrial use.

1660 Ringling Blvd.

1:30 pm

Adrien Lucas: Last Stand at Celery Hill

Last Stand at Celery Hill Our rally this past Saturday (11/2/19) was uplifting! Over 150 people took time from their busy schedules to gather at our Sarasota County Quad properties to demonstrate to the SRQ County Commissioners that pretending to be blind to their community is unacceptable and their intent to sell the public owned Quads for industrial development is not something the voting public will accept. This is Groundhog Politics but we will break the broken cycle of Sarasota County Commissioners who take license with our liberty and evaporating green spaces for the handful of developers in town who apparently the Commissioners work solely for. The fight to Save Our Celery Fields is not over. Details of this week's upcoming County Board meeting (Nov. 6) may be found in this email below as with a ton of links to recent press about our efforts. I cannot do this without you and the Saturday protest helped raise community spirit, awareness and energy for the future fight against the Commissioners ill intent to harm our community by selling OUR CELERY FIELDS QUADS for development. While setting up for the rally, I found it amusing and yet heartbreaking as I watched two Sand Hill Cranes fly over Gabbert's dump being built and the Quad parcel that our Commissioners tried to sell to Mr. Gabbert for his dump in 2017. County Staff reports they have never seen any animal/bird activity on these Quads and yet the Sarasota County Instragram page has a picture of Sand Hill Cranes stating they mate for life. If only the Commissioners would open their eyes to nature in real life, at some point, pictures will be the only thing left of the dwindling birds and wildlife that our County uses for marketing purposes. They just don't get it. Instead the Commissioners want to introduce even more traffic of semi's/trucks on to what are already considered a big F - failing level of service for area roads. What a "gift" for the people who live off or near Palmer Boulevard; what a "gift" for the Sand Hill Cranes who mate for life and get creamed on a regular basis on Palmer Boulevard. Thanks Commissioners, I think you are earning a big F for your level of service to the community! A mighty giant thanks to all who attended the rally and to all who have emailed the Commissioners voicing your opposition. Please keep the faith, we are on the right side of community and we will prevail. I hope to see you Wednesday at the Commission meeting, again, details below. Bunches of Celery Hugs, Adrien Lucas

Date: Wed. November 6, 2019 Time: 1:30 p.m. Location: 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL Click Here for Directions Parking may be found behind the County building in the parking lot. Public Comments: Persons wishing to speak at Open to the Public must complete a Request to Speak card. Cards are found on a table inside the County Chamber. Link to Agenda Click Here: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - (Three-minute time limit per person.) Discussion Section: Planning & Development Services A. Presentation of the Critical Area Plan Study for the I-75/Fruitville Road Major Employment Sector Plan (CAP No. 83-10-SP), including the County-owned Quads parcels; B. To consider amendments to Critical Area Plan No. 83-10-SP, located east of I-75 at Palmer Boulevard. 11. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - (Three-minute time limit per person.)

Commissioners vote like your children play at Celery Fields. Vote like your children live near Celery Fields. Vote like you actually care about the people of Sarasota and its remaining dwindling but needed green spaces. Vote like you actually recognize the Celery Fields is an eco-gem and its tourism revenue will be a dazzling investment for SRQ. Sarasota County's Zoning Mission Statement: Zoning's fundamental purpose is to protect a community's health, safety and welfare. Zoning's fundamental purpose is to enhance the wealth and political power of Developers+the collective few who are willing to sell their integrity for puny monetary $$ support.

Email the Sarasota County Commissioners Email Sarasota County Commissioners Charles Hines, Al Maio, Nancy Detert, Mike Moran and Christian Ziegler to let them know you oppose the sales of county owned lands known as "The Quads" and that the county must begin the process of recognizing the Quads as part of the Celery Field Regional Stormwater Facility a.k.a. The Celery Fields park. Just click the button to the right and the link will take you straight to the Commissioners email box.

Click here to email the Sarasota County Commission

Useful Links, Supporting Material & Some Helluva Good Press from the Past Week!

Sarasota County residents rally for Celery Fields and denounce ‘groundhog politics’ Herald Tribune by Anna Bryson | Nov 2, 2019 Video Celery Fields Protest Live to VOD recordings of WWSB's newscasts ABC Channel 7 by Taylor Torregano | November 1, 2019  Organizers plan 'Last Stand for Celery Hill' protest Saturday ABC Channel 7 by Taylor Torregano | November 1, 2019  SEIDMAN: Déjà vu all over again at Celery Fields Herald Tribune by Carrie Seidman | Octobert 31, 2019 After the Nov. 2 rally for Celery Fields Citizen's for Sarasota County Blog by Tom Matrullo | November 3, 2019 On Nov. 6, County Commission to discuss draft staff report that includes development options for Quads property next to Celery Fields Sarasota News Leaser by Rachel Brown Hackney |October 24, 2019 Fresh Start for the Celery Fields, a real time blog holding any and all things related to the Celery Fields and Sarasota County government. Great place to learn what we are up against. This is a useful site for appropriate cut and paste sentences for writing why you oppose the sale of the Quads. Comment on Critical Area Plan for the Quad Parcels at the Celery Fields, a breakdown on the proposed county staff Celery Field Quad CAP analysis to Sarasota planner Mr. Kirk. A video of Fresh Start's presentation to the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners on Sept. 12, 2018 that apparently fell on deaf ears.  Click here to View.

Sent by Adrien Lucas, Sarasota p.t. private citizen and small business owner who wants to Save Our Celery Fields! 941-539-9044 adrienoh@yahoo.com

Scenes from a rally: Nov. 2 protest at the Quads and Celery Fields

Above: A selection of photos by Miri Hardy taken at the Nov. 2, 2019 Peaceful Protest to express public outrage at the prospective rezoning and sale of the Quads, public lands at the Celery Fields, to private developers.

Photos #7, #8 and #10 came from Dennis Robertson -- thanks!

More information here from organizer Adrien Lucas.

Please sign the Petition to save our public lands and protect our birding and recreational lands.

Sarasota County Map: Quads Parcels and Celery Fields