5 Things: It's Presidents' Day and There's Free Parking

1. It's Presidents' Day, which means most government offices and services are closed. Check out this list of what it means to you for your city and county services. Parking is also free in Sarasota today due to the holiday.

2. The wrecking ball is coming into town on Tuesday when the former Sarasota Police Station, 2050 Ringling Boulevard, will see the beginning of its final days. The station will be demolished over the next 60 days. 

A slight increase in truck traffic and noise in the area should be expected, with work occurring Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The contractor will spray the demolition area with water to help keep dust to a minimum.

Built in the 1950’s, the Sarasota Police Station served police officers, administrative staff and the public until 2010 when the current SPD Headquarters opened adjacent to it. The old building lacked space and had become antiquated.

3. Ethan Smith, co-producer of the feature films “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” (2010) and the sequel “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” (2011) will speak to students at Alta Vista Elementary School on Tuesday. Smith will meet with students in grades three, four and five about the process of film-making and how he helped bring the best-selling book in Jeff Kinney’s popular series of young-adult novels to the screen.

4. Give your opinion on what the new Gulf Gate Library should look like and have. The county is holding an open house Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at St. Andrew United Church of Christ, 6908 Beneva Road, Sarasota. The new library will be built on the site of the existing building at 7112 Curtiss Ave., which opened in December 1983. The new library will be a two-story building with about 22,000 square feet. Gulf Gate Library has the largest circulation of the county's libraries.

5. The City Commission will consider Tuesday installing a Disc Golf Course at Payne Park. The sport, played with various sizes of flying discs and the idea is being brought up by Bryan Moore, who is the state's Professional Disc Golf Association coordinator, and the plan could cost $6,000 to implement.