News Briefs

+ Mote, UF study could benefit coral reefs
Researchers at Mote Marine Laboratory and the University of Florida have found that bacteria could potentially help corals to resist white pox disease. The findings could help maintain Florida’s coral reefs, which, according to a prepared statement, are important to tourism, fisheries, shoreline protection and pharmaceutical research. The study was funded by sales of Protect Our Reefs license plates, a statewide program administered by Mote.

+ Commission to discuss redistricting proposal
The Longboat Key Town Commission will discuss at its Oct. 20 regular workshop a suggestion made by Commissioner Phillip Younger in September to restructure the commission to have three district seats and four at-large seats. The commission currently consists of five district seats and two at-large seats. Modification of commission districts would require a referendum vote.

+ Lenobel, Zunz qualify to run for re-election
Commissioners Hal Lenobel and Patricia Zunz have qualified to run for re-election in March. Lenobel holds one of the commission’s two at-large seats and is currently serving his sixth term on the commission. He has served three terms as mayor. Commissioners elected Zunz in April to the District 5 seat, which was vacated by Robert Siekmann.

+ Town monitoring tropical disturbance
The town is currently monitoring Tropical Disturbance 52, which could bring heavy rains to the island through Thursday, Oct. 20. As of Monday night, the storm was expected to merge with a cold front by early Wednesday. For updates, visit the town’s website at longboatkey.org.

+ Correction
Lighthouse Point resident Peter Simonson was not charged with a crime in relation to a Sept. 26 incident involving a dispute with a neighbor over a proposed dock project. Simonson was released from custody immediately after witnesses told police that he was not the aggressor in the incident.

Meetings & agendas
• Town Commission regular workshop — 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20
• Town Commission joint meeting with Sarasota County Board of Commissioners — 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7
• Town Commission regular meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7
• Zoning Board of Adjustment — 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10
All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.