Plan Ahead:  Half Marathon Sun., March 18   Expect temporary lane closures in the morning on Sunday, March 18, as runners hit the streets for the 13th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay.   

The event starts at 6:30 a.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and takes runners over the Ringling Bridge, around St. Armands Circle and back up the North Trail and through the Indian Beach-Sapphire Shores Neighborhood before returning to the Van Wezel.  Participants are required to be off the streets by 11 a.m. to allow all traffic lanes to reopen.

A list of affected streets and a course map are available at SarasotaHalfMarathon.com With stunning views of Sarasota Bay along the race route, Sarasota remains a popular destination for competitive runners and fitness enthusiasts. 

Kudos to our Special Events team which works closely with event organizers to ensure the races are properly permitted with minimal traffic lane closures . 

Whole Foods Garage - Fire Response  It's unusual for us to write about breaking news in Weekly Briefs, but we wanted to share the response to a vehicle fire at the Whole Foods Garage in downtown this week.

A Dodge Caravan parked on the third floor caught fire mid-morning on Wednesday.  The blaze ignited within the vehicle's engine compartment and the fire damage was limited to the van.

With the parking garage connected to many businesses and condos along a one block stretch from Whole Foods to Central Ave., the immediate situation was a serious public safety concern.  The building was evacuated and the garage cordoned off to the public while firefighters tended to the incident. 

Sarasota County Fire Battalion Chief Mark Calderini escorted me to the third floor where I was able to inspect the area and see firsthand that the overhead fire suppression system within the garage worked as designed.  In addition, firefighters carried a hose up the three flights where they connected to the water system and completed extinguishing the fire.

Fortunately, the vehicle that caught fire was parked under the sprinkler system with no other cars immediately next to it. A nearby  fire extinguisher box was open, possibly as someone tried to put out the initial flames.

That block of downtown is quite active with shoppers, residents and employees, and it's reassuring to know the designed and approved fire safety measures worked according to plan.

Out of an abundance of caution, Building Official Larry Murphy and Parking Manager Mark Lyons were dispatched to the scene to inspect the integrity of the structure and parking area.  With no safety concerns, the garage reopened in time for the downtown lunch hour crowd.      

Thanks to all involved with this incident which highlights the need to ensure proper safety measures are in place in public facilities.

Roll & Stroll Sarasota - March 24   Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 24!  The inaugural Roll & Stroll Sarasota will be hosted at Payne Park.

Coordinated by the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, the event is designed to encourage people to leave their car behind and consider alternative ways to live, work and play.  Guided walking and bicycle tours of downtown Sarasota will be offered including three proposed route connections for the Legacy Trail extension into downtown Sarasota.

Earlier this week, the Board of County Commissioners approved

	Plans and proposed routes to connect the Legacy Trail to downtown Sarasota will be featured at the event.

placing a county-wide bond referendum on the November 6 ballot  to fund the final land acquisition and construction of the extension. Roll & Stroll Sarasota will be a good opportunity to learn more about these exciting plans to enhance connectivity, mobility and encourage fitness.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Payne Park.  In addition to the biking and walking tours, Roll & Stroll Sarasota will feature a bike rodeo, helmet safety fittings, as well as 300 helmet giveaways. 

For more info about the first ever Roll & Stroll Sarasota visit
Volunteer opportunities are available.  Click here to learn more and to register to volunteer.

The City is excited to co-sponsor this community event with an eye on mobility and wellness.  Hope to see you there! 

Spring Break Camp:  March 26-30    Spring Break is right around the corner and our Parks & Rec Department is gearing up for a fun filled week of youth camp.

Spring Break Camp will be offered at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex from March 26 through March 30.  Camp is for children ages 6-12 with a focus on fun, creative, and hands-on activities.  Each session is all day:  from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Registration is $45 per child.  We appreciate the Parks & Rec staff once again offering this affordable Spring Break alternative in a safe, kid-friendly  environment.

For more information, please contact the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex:  941-954-4182.

 

Human Resources Dept. - Certification   Congratulations to Cheryl Garrett in our Human Resources Department!