What's happening: Week of Feb. 5, 2015

Ringling seeks library donations to complete library funding
On Monday, Ringling College of Art and Design announced a pair of matching donations that, if met, would reach the school’s $16 million fundraising goal for a new library. The school needs $2 million to meet its goal, but has a matching donation for up to $1 million. Construction could begin this spring if the campaign is completed by May 31. 

The other, made by the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, will match donations up to $30,000.

HOW TO DONATE: Call 309-0117 or email [email protected].

Sarasota’s nerds get their revenge
On the heels of being named the sexiest small city in America, Sarasota has nabbed another peculiar distinction from real estate blog Movoto: the No. 2 nerdiest small city in the country.

“We didn’t just pick cities based on which ones sounded most like Pokémon names,” Movoto content creator Willie Clark states in the article.

To produce the list, the website used variables including the number of comic book stores, video game stores, bookstores and museums per capita in cities with a population between 50,000 and 60,000.

See the complete list at YourObserver.com.

SOSS2 prepares for legal action
Save Our Siesta Sand 2 is preparing to battle to protect Siesta Key beaches during the proposed dredging of Big Pass to renourish Lido Key.

Peter van Roekens, chairman for SOSS2, an organization established to protect Siesta Key and its beaches, announced at Tuesday’s Siesta Key Village Association meeting that SOSS2 had partnered with the Florida Wildlife Federation to receive legal counsel should the redesign of the groins on Lido Key prove a threat to Siesta.

“They have top-notch lawyers … highly involved in wildlife issues,” van Roekens said.

BY THE NUMBERS
25 - percent of Sarasota County’s total Tourist Development Tax revenues Siesta Key is generating to date in the 2015 cycle. Siesta Key is second only to the city of Sarasota, according to data from the Sarasota County Tax Collector.

7,000 - total number of runners competing in the sold-out Sarasota Music Half Marathon (Feb. 8) and the sold-out First Watch Half Marathon (March 15)

$17.5 million - amount in impact fees Sarasota County collected in fiscal year 2014. The revenue collected in fiscal year 2013 was $9.1 million. Read more online at YourObserver.com.

304 - average number of complaints the county code enforcement office receives a month

$1.2 million - grant from the federal government the Sarasota County School District received through Any Given Child Sarasota. The grant will help fund a new arts integration specialist.

2019 - The projected year the wastewater treatment facility at Lift Station 87 would will be complete, three years later than the date the Florida Department of Environmental Protection requires. Find out what this means for you on page 7A.

Basket Case
We polled downtown residents about a proposal from the Downtown Improvement District to install flower baskets on light poles:

Should the DID install flower baskets downtown?
No: 6
Yes: 29

What's the buzz?
Ivory Lounge owner Ambrish Piare's lawsuit against his downtown neighbors will continue in court after Judge Rochelle Curley tossed a motion to dismiss.

Piare claims the Plaza at Five Points condo owners have conspired to shut him down. Here’s what you said on Facebook:

Social stats
Reach: 12,532 people
Likes: 85
Shares: 2

"You rock Ambrish — Thanks for standing up for your convictions!"
— Rich Schineller

"As a musician who's had to deal with ... the condo bullies and noise ordinance for years, I really love seeing this little ray of sunshine break through the clouds. "
— M.J. Shenk