Mitt Romney In Sarasota Thursday

1. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is scheduled to attend a small fundraiser at The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota on Thursday at $2,500 a head, but so far no public event has been scheduled.

Joe Gruters, chairman for Republican Party of Sarasota County, told The Tampa Tribune that the local party is working to have an open event:

"We have no confirmation" on a public event, "but obviously we're trying to do everything we can to have one," Gruters said.

For tickets to the Romney at the Ritz fundraiser, email JoeGruters@gmail.com or call 941-914-2004.

2. The new Walmart Neighborhood Market, 3500 N. Tamiami Trail, is set to open at 8 a.m. Wednesday, following a ceremony at 7:30 a.m. The Sarasota Neighborhood Market is only one of about 200 of its kind in the U.S.

After the grand opening, the store will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. It features a pharmacy, pet products, hardware, health and beauty products and predominately groceries instead of clothing and other general merchandise that would dominate a typical Walmart.

3. Alta Vista Neighborhood Association will take up the topic of the proposed Walmart at the Ringling Shopping Center, route: {:controller=>"articles", :action=>"show", :id=>"video-walmart-discusses-proposed-supercenter-with-sarasota"} --> and the School Avenue area at its next meeting, 7 p.m. Thursday. The meeting will be at the