News Briefs

+ Mote asks beachgoers to preserve turtle tracks
Tropical Storm Debby destroyed several turtle nests, but in many cases Debby simply swept away the marker stakes. Many of these nests may still hatch, but their locations are now unknown to Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol, which patrols the Sarasota County portion of Longboat Key’s beach, and Longboat Key Turtle Watch, which patrols the Manatee County side.

Mote is asking beachgoers and property owners to leave hatchling tracks intact so patrollers can find and document these nests.

Property owners who want to rake their beaches should wait until late afternoon when possible or after their area has been patrolled for the day.

Beachgoers are also asked to avoid placing beach furniture on hatchling tracks and to remove barriers to provide a clear path for emerging hatchlings to find the sea.

+ Firefighters distribute information door-to-door
Longboat Key firefighter/paramedics will continue going door-to-door during the next two Saturdays in an effort to provide hurricane and emergency medical services information to residents.

The effort will first target single-family homes, followed by condominiums.

Firefighters will also distribute File of Life packets, which include a magnetic folder residents can place on their refrigerators with their medical information, such as the patient’s history, medications, allergies, physician name and hospital choice. The information is used by firefighter/paramedics in the event the patient and/or his or her family cannot talk or provide information during an emergency.

+ NOAA ups hurricane season predictions
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center has increased its predictions for the remainder of hurricane season. The revised forecast calls for 12 to 17 named storms, including five to eight hurricanes, two or three of which could become major hurricanes, for the remainder of the season, which runs through Nov. 30.

The predictions include the six named storms that have already formed during the season.

The NOAA initially predicted a below-average hurricane season in May, with nine to 15 named storms, four to eight of which would become hurricanes, and one to three of which would become major hurricanes.

+ Correction
Steve Schield is one of three Longboat Key Town Commission-appointed trustees to the General Employees Pension Board. Donna Spencer and Sandi Henley were elected to the board by employees.

+ Progress report
It’s not quite a sign, but it is the beginning of one.

Contractors worked to install metal framing this week on the new Publix that will eventually form the supermarket’s sign.

Also this week, CVS began tearing out the roof of its old store after opening its new one on the southwest portion of the Avenue of the Flowers site.