Sarasota's 5 Things To Know: Former Observer Editor To Release Novel

1. Former City Editor Roger Real Drouin will release an environmental fiction novel June 1 titled No Other Way. According to Drouin, the plot features, "photographer of birds Samuel Leaton, sets out to find the 'possibly extinct' Northern Stilted Curlew, when he suddenly gets caught up in a battle to protect a remote backcountry forest. As the men from Century Corp. drive in with their rigs to begin drilling for natural gas, Samuel and a rogue park ranger take up a fight no one else will."

It is Drouin's first novel and will be published by Moonshine Cove Publishing. Drouin says the novel will be available on Amazon and in most Barnes and Noble bookstores, and also available in ebook form. For more info, visit Facebook.com/rogerrealdrouin.

2. Starting today, you can turn in that late library book without paying a fine as part of Amnesty Week for Sarasota County Libraries.

Items must be returned in person to the circulation desk in order for the transaction to be completed and recorded. Fines will not be waived for items returned in book drops or by mail. 

Three keys for amnesty are:

• Visit the Circulation Desk to have overdue fines waived for previously returned items.

• Bring outstanding items to the Circulation Desk; related fines will be waived.

• Fees charged by the materials recovery agency will not be waived.

3. Florida Department of Transportation is planning to rehabilitate the Siesta Key Bridge (North Bridge) and will hold a second community forum to address concerns about the project or potential traffic jams due to work. The session is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 at Siesta Key Chapel, 4615 Gleason Ave. A prior session was held March 15. Construction is scheduled to begin June 5.

4.  Saturday Night Live alumnus Kevin Nealon will perform at  May 19 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Nealon is a regular on Showtime's Weeds as Doug Wilson and has a Showtime stand-up special Now Hear Me Out. He is also the voice of Glenn Martin, DDS on Nick at Nite. Tickets start at $29.

5. In business news,  has been appointed the exclusive leasing brokers for the M&I Bank Building located at 240 S Pineapple Ave.  The property, a 125,000 square-foot, 11-story, Class A office tower currently has units 1,248 square feet up to 36,680 square feet available for lease.  The property is situated in the heart of Sarasota’s central business district and recently received a $1.6 million dollar renovation.