Manasota Track Club cleans up Gulf of Mexico Drive

The club adopted a stretch of the road leading into Longboat Key.

  • By Nat Kaemmerer
  • | 9:30 a.m. February 8, 2021
  • Longboat Key
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The Manasota Track Club got acquainted with their newly adopted span of Gulf of Mexico Drive when club members gathered for a cleanup on Saturday, Feb. 6. 

As board member Rob Loeffler ran back and forth over the New Pass Bridge throughout the beginning of quarantine, the amount of trash he saw inspired  him to do something. Then he noticed the stretch of road from near Ken Thompson Parkway to the Chart House was available for adoption and figured it would be good exposure for the club. 

"The entire Manasota Track Club was behind me," Loeffler said of the organization's commitment to quarterly cleanups. On Saturday, about 30 club members ducked into the foliage, scrambled down the bridge approach slopes and crouched to pick up trash. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium scientist Kim Hull tracked what the club picked up. 

"This is the first time we've done anything, in about five years, that's not running," club president Felicia Cox said. "It's making my heart so full." 

Loeffler offered a $25 Amazon gift card for the strangest item. Contenders included a bike rack, a windshield wiper, a set of printed driving directions, gummy bears and dental floss. 

Members gather to discuss their trash.
Members gather to discuss their trash.
Hank Vroom and his bags of trash.
Hank Vroom and his bags of trash.
Julie and George Bressler
Julie and George Bressler
Cindy Common snaps a photo.
Cindy Common snaps a photo.
Members cross back over the bridge.
Members cross back over the bridge.
Jennifer Gallagher and Hillary Maher
Jennifer Gallagher and Hillary Maher
Rob Loeffler
Rob Loeffler
Karen Murray, Cindy Common and Tom Tatarian
Karen Murray, Cindy Common and Tom Tatarian
Tom Tatarian
Tom Tatarian
Felicia Cox
Felicia Cox
A group of members gather plenty of litter.
A group of members gather plenty of litter.
Tom Tatarian and Chris Common
Tom Tatarian and Chris Common
Karen Murray, right, leaps into the trees on side of the road.
Karen Murray, right, leaps into the trees on side of the road.
Karen Murray crouches to pick up cigarette butts.
Karen Murray crouches to pick up cigarette butts.
Karen Murray crouches to pick up cigarette butts.
Karen Murray crouches to pick up cigarette butts.
Members cross into the town of Longboat Key.
Members cross into the town of Longboat Key.
Members cross into the town of Longboat Key.
Members cross into the town of Longboat Key.
Members head over New Pass Bridge.
Members head over New Pass Bridge.
Kelli Carter heads into the foliage.
Kelli Carter heads into the foliage.
Janya Smolker and Kelli Carter
Janya Smolker and Kelli Carter
Andy Kish, Phyllis Weitzner, April Shereda and Wendy Stearns
Andy Kish, Phyllis Weitzner, April Shereda and Wendy Stearns
Kim Hull shows what trash can be found in the bay.
Kim Hull shows what trash can be found in the bay.
Manasota Track Club
Manasota Track Club
Kim Hull asked members to keep a mental log of trash.
Kim Hull asked members to keep a mental log of trash.
A group of members gather plenty of litter.
A group of members gather plenty of litter.

 

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