Florida Feature Manatees November is Manatee Awareness Month and the goal of this special time is to raise public awareness of the threats facing these gentle and beloved marine mammals. Throughout the winter months, manatees are usually found along shallow, coastal waterways in search of warm-water areas for refuge. Often, manatees will be found near springs that stay 72 degrees year-round, or around industrial structures that give off heat.
Florida Feature Manatees Manatee Awareness Month is best spent showing your appreciation and love for manatees. If you are lucky enough to live near waters that manatees inhabit, you can aid their cause by educating people about these creatures and the appropriate ways to interact with them. Most people that interact with manatees do not wish to cause them harm. Help them to avoid touching any wild manatees, from giving them fresh water from hoses, and from teaching them to frequent docks or busy waterways by feeding them lettuce. Locals and tourists can support manatees by following posted speed zones when boating, by donating to causes that support manatee conservation, by observing them from afar and always respecting their space.
For more information about Manatee Awareness Month and how to get involved, visit the Defenders for Wildlifewebsite!
https://www.yoursun.com/venice/allegiant-adds-routes-for-sarasota-and-punta-gorda-airports An Allegiant A-320 jet takes off — with the airline recently announcing new flights set for Boston, Houston and Chicago. PHOTO PROVIDED By DANIEL SUTPHIN and SUE ERWIN Staff Writers
SARASOTA — Allegiant Travel Company announced Thursday three new routes to major cities out of airports in Sarasota and Punta Gorda.
The company added a seasonal nonstop route to Boston out of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport starting Nov. 19.
“Florida is an important part of Allegiant’s network, which is built around connecting people in small and medium-sized cities to vacation destinations such as Sarasota and Punta Gorda,” Allegiant Media Relations spokesperson Sonya Padgett said. “More than half of our passengers system-wide fly through the state. Because of the pandemic, we believe there will be pent-up demand for travel during the winter months, so adding these routes now will provide our customers with more options when they’re making travel plans.”
Beginning Nov. 20, Punta Gorda Airport will offer nonstop seasonal flights to Houston and Chicago.
“Southwest Floridians will be thrilled to fly with ease from Punta Gorda into these major metropolitan areas,” said Punta Gorda Airport’s CEO James W. Parish. “These new routes mark Allegiant’s first flight from PGD into the great state of Texas, and will connect thousands of Chicago’s residents to our sunny beaches and outdoor paradise.”
The new nonstop routes will operate twice weekly, flying into Boston Logan International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and Chicago Midway International Airport.
Padgett added that the company’s health and wellness protocols are standardized across the network and are designed for maximum effectiveness.
“Travel Pulse named Allegiant the top airline for COVID-19 traveler safety measures,” Padgett said. “The air quality on our planes has always exceeded HEPA standards thanks to the VOC (volatile organic compound) filters we use. The cabin air is a mix of fresh and filtered air, which is refreshed every three minutes during flight.
Several studies show that the in-cabin air on commercial jets meets or exceeds hospital grade standards because of those on-board air filters. To better assist customers, we’ve created a landing page on our website that provides details about our cleaning program, on-board air quality and social distancing practices.”
Flight days, times and costs can be found at Allegiant.com.
SARASOTA — Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 18, for Florida voters. Polls are open that day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots must be returned to your supervisor of elections office by 7 p.m. that evening.
The Gondolier reached out to Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner to ask a few questions for the upcoming election.
Do you still need poll workers?
The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections employs approximately 1,000 workers for early voting, and at the polls on election day. In the recent March election, approximately 30% of poll workers opted not to work.
We have experienced a number of poll workers who are still unable to work for the coming August primary election. We are doing our best to fill poll worker positions. However, it is likely that some election day polling places will change due to poll worker staffing issues or locations being unable to accommodate us.
Is voting by mail safe?
Vote-by-mail began in Florida in 2002 as no-excuse absentee voting. Since that time, vote-by-mail also called absentee has been available for all registered voters in the state. The name absentee was changed to vote-by-mail by the Florida Legislature in 2016.
Can a voter track their ballot?
Yes. Vote-by-mail ballots are tracked on our website from the time your request is processed until your voted ballot is received back in the elections office and tabulated. A voter’s record is updated when the ballot is received in the election’s office to prevent a voter from voting twice in an election. Upon receipt, voters’ signatures on the certificate (return) envelopes are compared to signatures on file.
When does early voting start?
Early voting for the Aug. 18 Primary Election will run Saturday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 16. For more information, call 941-861-8606 or visit www.sarasotavotes.com.
A loggerhead hatchling, newly emerged from its nest, heads to the Gulf where it will begin its life journey. Photos provided by Mary Lundberg
ENGLEWOOD — On a good year, Brenda Bossman might expect loggerheads to lay 100 or 125 eggs in a nest.
This season, Bossman, who tracks nesting on Don Pedro and Knight Islands, has discovered nests with 144 eggs and another with 149 eggs. So far this season, volunteer sea turtle patrols on those barrier islands off the coast near Englewood counted 250 or more loggerhead nests and 20 green sea turtle nests.
The recent renourishing of eroding shorelines of Manasota Key, Don Pedro and Knight islands hasn't dissuaded the sea turtles from nesting.
Two weeks ago, Charlotte County Natural Resources project manager Jamie Scudera told the Beaches and Shores Advisory Committee how the county's barrier islands were enjoying a bountiful nesting season.
The Coastal Wildlife Club — which oversees nesting on Manasota Key — agrees.
"The only year with higher number at this time was 2016," CWC board member Carol Leonard said.
As of Friday, CWC patrols identified 3,728 loggerhead nests, 72 green and two Kemp's ridley sea turtle nests on Manasota Key. Kemp's ridley are the smallest and most endangered sea turtle species.
Mote Marine Laboratory oversees volunteer sea turtle patrols from Venice north to Longboat Key.
As of July 4, Mote reported 2,803 loggerhead nests and 40 green sea turtle nests. Casey Key is seeing the most nests — 170 loggerhead and nine green sea turtle nests.
Predators and people
Coyotes are preying upon nests on the north end of Knight and Don Pedro islands. Armadillos are preying, more so than the coyotes, upon nests on the south end of the islands, Bossman said.
But people can pose an even greater danger to sea turtles, especially for the hatchlings emerging from their nests and making a mad scramble to the Gulf.
"Nests have begun to hatch, so now is the time to be especially cautious of any lights visible from the nesting beaches," Leonard said. "Ideally at night, sea turtles would have dark, quiet beaches all to themselves."
Artificial light is especially disorientating to the nesting turtles and their hatchlings emerging from their nests. Instincts tell them to head for the Gulf and the lighted horizon, but artificial light can lead them to head into the opposite direction.
"While red is the least disruptive color for sea turtles, red is seen by the turtles and they can find it disturbing enough to abandon their attempt to nest," Leonard said. "Many red flashlights are actually white lights with red coverings that actually allow other wavelengths through. LED lights emit limited wavelengths (colors) but are often much brighter."
"Flashlight beams narrow your field of vision," said Leonard, who is a retired Lemon Bay High School science teacher. "Letting your eyes adjust to the darkness allows you to observe more of the beach."
She recommends people reserve using flashlights or phone lights for their personal safety, such as on stairs. Hold the light in one hand and shield it with the other, directing the light downward, so that the light is least visible.
"Leave any headband lights at home," Leonard said.
To learn more about sea turtles and nesting, visit myfwc.com.
ENGLEWOOD — Save your coins for another day if you want to go to Englewood Beach.
Charlotte County suspended parking fees when it reopened Englewood Beach, Port Charlotte Beach, its public boat ramps and other facilities in May, following a month of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the free parking ended June 1, when the county once again began collecting fees for parking spaces.
The process, however, is a little different this time. The county enacted a “no-cash” policy to protect patrons and staff from potential exposure to the coronavirus by eliminating contact with the parking cash machines that are placed around the parking lot. The parking machines at Englewood Beach and other facilities are covered up.
Instead, beach patrons are directed by signs to download a smart phone app that will allow them to pay for their parking via credit or debit card. Parking is 75 cents per hour, according to Charlotte County’s website.
Janet Blizzard grew frustrated with trying to download the ParkMobile app and pay Tuesday morning at the beach.
With her daughter-in-law, Katie, and her two grandchildren — 3-year-old Abbigail and 7-year-old Nateigh — Blizzard drove up from Fort Myers to enjoy a day at Englewood Beach. They enjoy it much more than Fort Myers Beach.
They arrived at Englewood Beach shortly before 10 a.m. Blizzard was still standing in the parking lot 20 minutes later, trying to pay for their parking space through the app, which is available to download for free at the Apple Store, Google Play, or through the ParkMobile website.
OTHER WAYS TO PAY
Charlotte County does offer other ways for people to pre-pay for parking at its beaches and boat ramps.
You can pay in advance, using your smartphone, tablet or computer and going to www.ParkMobile.com or through the ParkMobile smart phone app.
The county also allows patrons to purchase — with credit cards only — parking passes. The county offers three-month passes for $26.95, six-month passes for $37.45, and annual parking passes for $53.50.
Patrons may call 941-625-7529 to buy passes or to get information, or find a parking pass application at tinyurl.com/ccparkingpass, and mail it in with a check or credit card information and a with self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Charlotte County Community Services Administration, 1120 O’Donnell Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33953.
Those with existing parking passes should know the county added a two-month extension because of the time lost to the beach closures. If you have a state issued handicap permit (plate or placard), you may park for free at any Charlotte County park, boat ramp or fishing pier, provided the person issued the permit is present.
By the way, Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputies have access to the parking app information, and can determine by license plate who has paid and who hasn’t paid for their parking spot. By the way, the fine for parking without paying at the beach is $40.
Florida residents can buy hurricane supplies tax-free from today through Thursday, June 4. The tax-free weekend arrives in time for hurricane season in Florida, which begins on June 1.
From today until Thursday, people will be able to buy hurricane supplies like flashlights, waterproof sheeting and portable generators without paying tax.
Tax-Free Hurricane Supplies in Florida
Selling for $10 or less:
Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)
Selling for $20 or less:
Any portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank or gas)
Candles
Flashlights
Lanterns
Selling for $25 or less:
Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers
Selling for $30 or less:
Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, only these sizes: AAA-cell, AA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, and 9-volt
Coolers and ice chests (food storage; nonelectrical)
Selling for $50 or less:
Bungee cords
Ground anchor systems
Radios (powered by battery, solar or hand-crank), two-way, weather band
Ratchet straps
Tarpaulins (tarps)
Tie-down kits
Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths and other flexible waterproof sheeting
Selling for $750 or less:
Portable generators used to provide light or communications or to preserve food in the event of a power outage
If a product features both qualifying and non-qualifying purchases, it will be tax-free only if it is selling for less than the designated price indicated in the list above. Additionally, items sold together cannot be separately priced and sold individually to qualify for the sales tax exemption.
However, light sources and radios qualify for the exemption even if electrical cords are included.
The sales tax holiday also does not apply to the rental or repair cost of any of the qualifying items and does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.
Anyone buying these items in the tax-free window should keep a receipt or proof of purchase to be reported as exempt sales on their next sales tax return.
Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted: "Every Florida resident and visitor needs to be ready for hurricane season and have a plan in place. Be sure to take advantage of the Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which runs from May 29-June 4."
As hurricane season begins in Florida on June 1, it is important to be prepared. Prepare for power outages by putting together an emergency preparedness kit and an evacuation plan. Stay up to date with weather conditions and make sure you have access to a weather alert system.
Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964
