Longboat Lore: Community built bridges during bridge breakdown

On Oct. 17, 1983, what had once been a 10-minute commute became an hour-or-more drive.

The New Pass Bridge got stuck in semi-open position that day, forcing drivers traveling between Longboat Key and Sarasota to travel north on the Key, through Bradenton Beach, Cortez and Bradenton.

Longboat Key resident Larry Marthaler, who was then executive director of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau, worked out a plan in which a Le Barge Tropical Cruise Boat would ferry passengers back and forth, with each trip taking between 12 and 15 minutes. Soon, the company added live music and inexpensive refreshments.

Many commuters started their days with a coffee on the boat and ended it with an evening beer while they sailed home. Looking back on the bridge breakdown five years ago, Marthaler recalled a camaraderie that developed between passengers.

The New Pass Bridge reopened to traffic Oct. 31. Marthahler received the Golden Gavel Award for “Outstanding Community Service” for his efforts.

+ Man got trashed on Key
When the Aquarius Club manager opened the lid of the recyclable trashcan outside the condominium during the second week of October in 1997, he received a big surprise: A 22-year-old Sarasota man was there, curled up in a ball.

The man appeared dead to the manager. But, in reality, he was sleeping off what was no doubt a night to remember — even though the man had no memory of it at all. He told police he was drinking beer at a party Sunday night in Sarasota and had no idea how he got into the trash bin.

Fortunately, the story had a happy ending, but police warned that he could have been killed if the garbage truck had poured him into the trash compactor.

Classic Cops
10/18/87 — 5:10 p.m. Man left his purse on the beach, 3100 block GMD. Not located.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]