News Briefs

+ Town, commissions have Valentine’s Day date
The Longboat Key Town Commission and Manatee County Board of County Commissioners have Valentine’s Day plans: They’ll spend the afternoon together, beginning at 1:30 p.m., discussing the Longboat Pass Inlet Management Study, which was jointly funded by the town and county. The rendezvous takes place in the Manatee Room/Fourth Floor Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

+ Chapel begins elevator construction
Longboat Island Chapel began construction of the elevator for its Aging in Paradise Resource Center two weeks ago. The 3,700-square-foot space is expected to be completed later this year and will eventually serve as a liaison between individuals facing age-related issues and the organizations and services available, for everything from health problems and memory loss to financial planning. The ideas behind the resource center came about more than four years ago as the result of aging issues that many chapel members saw within their congregation.

+ Fire Department gets new rescue vehicle
Longboat Key Fire Rescue has a new Polaris 6x6 vehicle that will be used to assist in rescues along the beach. The department obtained funding for the vehicle and other water-rescue equipment, including an 11-foot rescue board, through an Emergency Medical Services matching grant offered last summer by the Department of Health.

+ Mote history featured in international journal
Mote Marine Laboratory is one of 21 research laboratories featured in “Gulf of Mexico Science,” a peer-reviewed journal distributed throughout the United States and as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Mote President and CEO Dr. Kumar Mahadevan wrote the laboratory’s history for the journal, beginning with its in 1955 founding by Dr. Eugenie Clark and ending with its 55-year anniversary in 2010, with special emphasis on 1978, the year it moved to its City Island location.

+ ZBA meeting canceled
The Feb. 9 Longboat Key Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting has been canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 8, at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.

Meetings & agendas
• Code Enforcement Board meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13
• Joint meeting with Manatee County Board of County Commissioners — 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 (Manatee Room/Fourth Floor Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton)
• Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials Meeting — 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 (Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach)
• Town Commission regular workshop — 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16
• Planning & Zoning Board meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21
All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.