News Briefs

+ DID plans to makeover historic district
The Downtown Improvement District believes its next move will be to make the Downtown Historic District look more like a historic district.

“We have to make something different about it,” said Ernie Ritz, DID chairman.

The federal government now recognizes as a historic district a stretch of Main Street from Orange Avenue to Gulfstream Boulevard. It also includes a few buildings just off Main Street on Pineapple Avenue and Palm Avenue.

Signs on I-75 and Fruitville Road point visitors to the historic district, but the DID thinks when people get here, there’s nothing that sets the district apart from the rest of downtown.

So, it is proposing the possibility of bricking the streets to give it an old-time look, as well as widening the sidewalks.

The DID wants input from the community at its next meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 14 in room 112 at City Hall, 1565 First St.

+ Patterson Foundation assists tornado victims
The Patterson Foundation is increasing its contribution to help those impacted by the deadly tornado in Alabama.

The foundation had partnered with radio station The JOY FM and promised to match up to $33,000 in donations received from the station’s listeners.

Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, announced this week that it would increase the amount of the initial donation up to $50,000.

“The outpouring of generosity and success of the initial $33,000 match inspired us to increase our commitment,” Jacobs said. “This community cares for one another. It is our intent that the $50,000 will give a boost to the local economy and help them begin to rebuild with purpose and hope.”

+ Mote Marine receives $1 million pledge
Two longtime, anonymous supporters of Mote Marine Laboratory have pledged $1 million to fund key programs for the next four years.

The donation will be used to fund a post-doctoral fellowship program, outreach programs and red-tide research, as well as a new screen in Mote’s Immersion Cinema, which will allow visitors to watch a high-definition film about red tide.

Meetings & agendas
â–º Development Review Committee — 9 a.m. Thursday, June 2, Conference Room 2, 1001 Sarasota Center Blvd., Sarasota
â–º Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations — 9 a.m. Saturday, June 4, Waldemere Fire Station, 2070 Waldemere St., Sarasota
â–º City Commission — 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 6, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota
â–º County Commission — 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
â–º County Commission — 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 8, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota