News Briefs

+ New lights installed at Five Points Park
Last June, the Downtown Improvement District turned off the tree lights at Selby Five Points Park due to rising maintenance costs. On Friday, a new system made its debut.

The new lights were installed in 18 of the park’s 26 trees, illuminating the perimeter of the park. The Sarasota Downtown Merchants Association spearheaded the project after installing the same stringed white lighting system along the 1300, 1400 and 1500 blocks of Main Street.

The project was funded by the Downtown Improvement District, which paid for a portion of the $81,000 lighting system installed in 2011. After maintenance costs and issues escalated, the DID voted to turn off the lights and search for a new system last summer.

A request for proposals produced a winning submission of a color-change LED system that would cost up to $136,000, but the DID balked at the price. The merchants group approached the DID in January to request funding for the white lights, to which the DID ultimately agreed. The cost of installing and maintaining the new system over the next year is $36,380.

+ Indiana football player nearly drowns on Siesta
Indiana University football player Isaac Griffith is in critical condition after a current pulled him past the swim buoy Monday at Siesta Key public beach.

According to a report from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Griffith went swimming around 6 p.m., after drinking alcohol with Nick Stoner and Ty Smith, fellow Indiana football players, and Mitch McCune in their hotel room. Griffith, 19, appeared distressed after floating 15 yards past the buoy, after which McCune brought him to shore and performed CPR.

Griffith’s breath was short and sporadic, and he was unconscious before emergency personnel transported him to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Griffith is currently in a medically induced coma, according to his father, Shannon Griffith’s Twitter feed.

The National Weather Service had predicted severe thunderstorms throughout the day Monday, which included warnings about the risk for riptides and damaging wind gusts.

+ Nightclub owner plans lawsuit against residents
Ambrish Piare, owner of the nightclub Ivory Lounge, says he’s filing a lawsuit in response to mounting grievances from nearby condominium residents.

Last week, the Plaza at Five Points Condominium Association and five individual condo residents received a letter, which notified them that Piare intended to bring legal action against them. The letter, written by attorney Andrea Mogensen, says Piare intends to make a number of claims against the condo residents, including slander, defamation and tortious interference with a business relationship.

Piare said he decided to file the lawsuit because he now believes the residents care about getting the nightclub shut down, not about getting it to operate within the confines of the city’s noise ordinance.

“I don’t feel responsible whatsoever for us getting to this point,” Piare said. I have tried for two years to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. I have been fighting ghosts.”

Ron Rayevich, president of the Plaza at Five Points Condo Association, declined to comment on possible litigation.

+ Correction
The business of birth story on page 2 of the March 13 Health Matters special section incorrectly stated the level of Manatee Memorial Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

Manatee Memorial Hospital has a fully functioning Level II neonatal intensive care unit, staffed by neonatologists, which provides care to infants in Manatee County.

Manatee Memorial Hospital has received a certificate of need to develop a Level III neonatal intensive care unit.

+ Parks selected for Macy’s ‘Heart Your Park’ program
Sarasota’s Potter Park and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens have been selected for Macy’s “Heart Your Park” fundraiser program. The national program, which is part of Macy’s “Secret Garden” spring campaign, aims to raise not only money, but also awareness of local parks around the country.

More than 550 parks nationwide have been selected by Macy’s, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, for the program. 

Through Monday, March 31, Macy’s customers can donate $1 or more at the register to Selby Gardens and Potter Park.

At the end of the month, Macy’s will match the total customer donations, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000 in total.

Meetings & agendas
Downtown Improvement District meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 25, SRQ Media Studio, City Hall, 1565 First St., Saraasota.

Sarasota County Commission workshop — 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 25, Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.