News Briefs

+ Cortez bridge repair work scheduled for April
A $4 million Cortez Bridge repair project is scheduled to begin April 28, 2014, with estimated completion in early 2015.
The project aims to add 10 years of service life to the 57-year-old bridge, while officials develop a long-term solution for the structure that would involve either a rehabilitation or replacement.
During repairs, flaggers may close one lane from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Temporary closures could delay traffic by 15 minutes from midnight to 5 a.m.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the bridge is currently safe for traffic but has outlived its 50-year design service life by seven years.

+ End of turtle nesting season marks the return of lights
On Nov. 1, you can turn the lights back on, even if they’re visible from the beach.

The six-month turtle-nesting season ends Oct. 31.

Last month, Mote Marine Laboratory reported a strong season for loggerhead turtles, with 2,240 nests in its 35-mile patrol area this year, just behind last year’s 2,462 nests — a record in Mote’s 31 years of patrolling local beaches.

On Longboat Key, nesting numbers were slightly ahead of last year’s totals, with 639 documented nests compared to 628 in 2012.

+ Longboat Library resumes full-day schedule Nov. 1
The Longboat Library will resume its full-day schedule Friday, Nov. 1. 

Hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Summer hours of 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday will continue through Thursday, Oct. 31.

Patrons can enjoy the latest additions to the library’s collections, such as “The Lowlands” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, and titles by Lee Child, Nicholas Sparks, Michael Connelly and Phillipa Gregory.

The library is located at 555 Bay Isles Road.

Memberships are open to Key residents and visitors. Annual fees are $25 for a basic membership; $40 for patron membership; and $350 for life memberships.

For information, call 383-2011.

+ Police department promotes three employees
Longboat Key police recently promoted the following employees:

Chris Skinner was promoted from sergeant to patrol captain; Randy Thompson was promoted from officer to sergeant; and Tina Gohl was promoted from senior dispatcher to communications supervisor.
Promotions were effective Oct. 6.

Meetings & agendas
Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4.

Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Planning & Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2.

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