In Brief

+ Surveillance cameras in progress
The police department is currently installing the infrastructure for a wireless surveillance-camera system downtown and has made a deal with the camera company for it to loan two cameras for free.

Lt. Jeff Karr said agreements have been reached with Ringling College of Art and Design and McCown Towers on Boulevard of the Arts to place relay stations there. Karr also wants to place one at 1350 Main but hasn’t been able to reach the property manager yet. The new police headquarters will have the main receiver equipment.

Let’s Think Wireless will place two cameras at Lemon Avenue and Main Street for an undetermined period.
One will be stationary, and the other can pan.

Karr is asking the Downtown Improvement District to fund another camera, which would be placed at Five Points Park. It would cost about $15,000.

The $208,000 installation of the infrastructure should be complete by the end of October.
Karr has been an advocate of the cameras helping to deter transient crime in Five Points Park. He said the cameras should slow the rate of crime, but acknowledged that transients may just move to a different part of downtown.

+ Sarasota County home sales rise 20%
The number of sales of homes and condos last month in Sarasota County was nearly 20% higher than in August 2008.

The Sarasota Association of Realtors reported 498 property sales last month, compared to 415 sales for the same time the previous year.

Also, the inventory of for-sale properties is shrinking. There were 3,949 single-family homes and 2,343 condos for sale at the end of August. At the end of August 2008, there were 6,461 homes and 2,407 condos for sale.

+ Public flu shot clinics now open
Sarasota County is offering flu-shot clinics at different locations beginning this week. Health officials say the shots are for everyone 6 months of age and older. The cost will be from $20 to $30.

However, these vaccinations will not protect against the H1N1 (swine) flu. Those vaccinations won’t be available until mid-October at the earliest.

No appointment is needed for the following dates and locations:
•10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 18, at Sarasota Baptist Church, 7091 Proctor Road, Sarasota
•10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 425 Tamiami Trail, Osprey