News Briefs

+ ‘Super moon’ doesn’t affect Longboat beaches
An “extreme super moon” that was in effect over the weekend raised tides but did not create any major beach erosion, according to town officials.

An “extreme super moon” made its first appearance in 18 years. It’s called an “extreme super moon,” because the moon made its closest approach to Earth in 18 years.

The moon appeared about 10% to 15% larger than normal over the weekend.

The moon created abnormally high tides from Friday through Sunday.

+ North Lido Park tidal tributary completed
Local contractors working with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program have completed the development of a new tidal tributary near the North Lido Park beach access.

The restoration project will improve about 30 acres on the 70-acre site. The major effort, launched in September, removed non-native vegetation, excavated the tidal wetland, contoured the upland area, created dunes and planted thousands of native plants.

Florida Native Nursery recently planted more than 8,700 plants on the newly created shores. Volunteers will add more than 500 additional plants this summer with the Bay Guardians, a volunteer group supported by SBEP and Around the Bend Nature Tours.

Funding for the restoration project came from Southwest Florida Water Management District and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. Other project partners include the city of Sarasota and Sarasota County.

+ Post office prepares for April 18 tax deadline
Starting Monday, April 11, the Longboat Key Post Office will have additional supplies of both certified mail and return receipt U.S. postal forms available for taxpayers submitting tax forms to the Internal Revenue Service before the Monday, April 18 tax deadline this year.

Proper preparation of these forms will allow postal clerks to efficiently process and complete these transactions, which limits the amount of time each customer has to wait.

Additional personnel will be present in the Longboat Key Post Office lobby throughout the day April 18 to answer any questions. However, there will not be extended post office hours. Regular business hours at the Longboat Key Post Office are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact the Longboat Key Post Office at 383-4499 or email Postmaster Rodney Masengale at [email protected] for more information.

Meetings & agendas
Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Thursday, March 24.
Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, April 4.
Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, April 11.

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