News Briefs

+ City plans repairs for Osprey Avenue Bridge
The city will be performing repairs to the Osprey Avenue Bridge at Hudson Bayou beginning Monday, July 9. Due to the arch configuration of the bridge and the requirement for cofferdams to repair the deteriorated concrete at the waterline, the width of the useable channel for boats will be reduced.
The repairs are scheduled to take six weeks, with three weeks on one end and three weeks on the other. The waterway will be open to boat traffic.

+ South Shade Avenue temporarily closed
South Shade Avenue between South Pelican Drive and Novus Street will be temporarily closed for railroad and sidewalk improvements until Monday, July 16. During the closure, motorists should follow the posted detour signs.

Seminole Gulf Railroad will replace the rails to allow for smoother and safer vehicle crossing. The adjacent roadway and sidewalk also will be improved. 

+ O’Shea takes the helm at New College
As of July 1, Dr. Donal O’Shea has officially begun his post as the fifth president of New College of Florida, following the retirement of Dr. Gordon “Mike” Michalson.

After a 10-month search, the New College search committee chose O’Shea for the position based on his passion for liberal-arts education.

Before coming to New College, O’Shea was the dean of faculty and vice president for academic affairs at Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Mass.

+ Correction
A photo depicting the former Central Avenue Sarasota Police Department substation building in the June 28 issue was actually of the former Sarasota Ice House building. The police substation building, above, sits at 890 Central Ave., Sarasota.

Meetings & Agendas
• Development Review Committee — 9 a.m. Thursday, July 5, City Hall, Room 112, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
• Sarasota City Commission Budget Workshop — 3 p.m. Friday, July 6, City Hall, Commission Chamber, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
• St. Armands Business Improvement District Board of Directors Meeting — 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, City Hall, Room 109, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
• Historic Preservation Board Meeting — 3 p.m. Thursday, July 10, City Hall, Commission Chamber, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
• Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Meeting — 3 p.m. Thursday, July 12, City Hall, Commission Chamber, 1565 First St., Sarasota.