BUSINESS OBSERVER

+ St. Armands Circle parking time-limit change
The three-hour parking limit on St. Armands Circle will change from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. within the next 30 days. The city will post signs within the next month, and once the signs are posted, the time limit will go into effect.

+ St. Armands Circle Association welcomes new board
At the St. Armands Circle Association Board of Directors meeting May 1, new board members and officers were appointed. Four new board members were appointed to three-year terms to the St. Armands Circle Association Board of Directors: Steve Ham, Finance Center manager with Chase Bank; Angela Johnston, owner of Les Ciseaux; Laurie Gomes, of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune; and Matt Grover, co-owner of the Daiquiri Deck. The proposed slate of officers was also determined: Eric Seace as president; Scott MacDonald as vice president; Jack Peffley as treasurer; Bill Carman as secretary/director of communications; and Andrew Vac as past president and director of membership.

+ U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla No. 82 appoints national branch chief
On Thursday, May 10, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla No. 82 (Longboat Key) appointed Stephen Ellerin as national branch chief, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s liaison to the United States Power Squadrons (USPS). Sarasota Power & Sail Squadron Commander Susan Lomastro and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla No. 82 Commander Bill Myers performed a changing of the boards ceremony to reflect his new office. The new position signifies a national commitment by the organizations to broaden their cooperation in promoting recreational boating safety through increased boater education, recreational vessel safety examinations and public awareness events.