News Briefs

+ Volunteer Lew Simon appointed to state boards
Longboat Key Fire Rescue Volunteer President Lew Simon has been appointed to serve on the state’s Firefighters Employment, Standards and Training Council and the Fire and Emergency Incident Information System Technical Advisory Panel.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater notified Simon of his appointment in a letter dated Feb. 8.
Divisions of State Fire Marshal Director and former Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Julius Halas recommended Simon.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve Florida in this capacity,” Simon said.

Simon has been instrumental in creating successful programs on the Key and in The Villages for CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which shock your heart by getting it back into a rhythm. An AED pager system Simon created has also been successful.

Simon helped expand the volunteer service on the Key, with the support of Halas, by pushing for the support of AEDs in condominiums all over the Key.

+ Dredging project near Jewfish Key in the works
An emergency dredging in the authorized channel near Jewfish Key could become a reality.

At a December West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) meeting held in Venice, WCIND Director Chuck Listowski explained that he has made arrangements with a property owner in Cortez to place 10,000 cubic yards of dredged material on his property.

The dredged material will come from a large sand shoal that is causing the authorized boating channel to close in on Longboat west of Jewfish Key.

The project will cost WCIND approximately $100,000. The Manatee County Commission must approve the project, which will begin later this year.

+ Commissioner Whitmore proposes mayoral meeting
Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore wants to schedule a mayoral meeting next month in Bradenton.

In a Feb. 10 e-mail to six mayors, Whitmore’s assistant explains that she wants to convene a mayoral meeting to encourage an ongoing dialogue and keep the lines of communication open.  

There will be no set agenda for the meeting, which will allow for more open discussions.  

The meeting will be held either March 5, March 21 or March 25, at Blake Medical Center, 2020 59th St. W., in Bradenton.

The mayors of Longboat Key, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Bradenton and Palmetto were invited to participate.

+ Corrections
• From the Feb. 10 Our Town section, Nola Hietbrink, a Longboat resident, is incoming chair of the Children First Board of Directors. Jo Rutstein, also a Longboat Key resident, is incoming vice chair.

• A photo on page 6C in the Feb. 10 issue was incorrectly identified as Mary and Chuck Schultz. The photo is of Gulfshore of Longboat Key Mardi Gras party co-chairs Joan and Joe Callan. Mardi Gras king and queen were Lynn McConnell and Jackie Winter.

Meetings & agendas
Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17.
Town Commission Regular Meeting — 1 p.m. Monday, March 7.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.