News Briefs

+ Town Hall’s executive director to renew contract
Eva Rey, Town Hall executive director, has agreed to terms of a new three-year contract to continue her position.

The Inter-District Authority will vote on the contract at its June meeting.

“I love Lakewood Ranch and I love what I do,” said Rey, whose current three-year contract expires in August. “There was no question in my mind that I was going to stay here.”

Rey’s annual salary currently is $130,000.

+ National retailers to move in to University Town Center
Crate & Barrel and J. Crew secured spots in The Mall at University Town Center, adding to a long line of national chain stores that committed to be part of the only interior mall scheduled to open this year in the United States.

Sarasota County building permits revealed the latest tenants for the mall last week.

The Mall at UTC will be the first location in Southwest Florida for Crate & Barrel, a home decor shop best known for furniture and home accessories. The company has 170 stores in the United States.

J. Crew, a national clothing retailer that has more than 20 stores in Florida, holds a reputation for opening locations in luxury malls.

More than 100 tenants have committed to locations at the new mall, which will open Oct. 16 at the southeast corner of University Parkway and Cattlemen Road, in Sarasota.

+ Rick Fawley earns 2014 Tourism Outreach Award
Rick Fawley, president of Fawley Bryant Architects, received the 2014 Tourism Outreach Award from the Bradenton Area Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau May 15.

Fawley received recognition for his promotion of green sustainability in the buildings he designs, such as the 33,000-square-foot Schroeder-Manatee Ranch corporate building.

The building, which Fawley and his team designed in 2006, stands as the first commercial building constructed to fulfill sustainable, “green” standards as defined by the Florida Green Building Council.

Meetings & agendas
Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Meeting — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 20, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Manatee County Development Review Committee Meeting — 10 a.m. to noon May 21, in the Manatee Room at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.