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MARCH 2019 941.349.0194|ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC
NEWCOMERS We are excited to welcome the 38 new Landings residents
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JAYNE BLAIR
www.THELANDINGSOFSARASOTA.com
THE LANDINGS CHOSEN AS SITE TO ANNOUNCE MARGARET GOOD’S BILL TO UPDATE FLORIDA LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS The Landings is proud to be part of state-and county-wide growing efforts to manage our lakes, landscape, and environment to preserve and improve water, wildlife, and vegetation. Margaret Good chose to announce her new legislative bill regarding Florida landscape and retention pond regulations in our community on February 11, 2019. This announcement was attended by members of our community and environmental advocates, and was covered by local ABC news and a New College of Florida student reporter (Katrina Carlin, Social Media Editor, “The Catalyst”). Ms. Carlin’s article, reprinted with her permission, provides all the details of this important event.
Multimodal Biological Control: A new way to regulate retention ponds in Florida By Katrina Carlin Long time Landings’ resident born in 1913 turned 105 years young
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KID’S CORNER
Meet Clara Joanne Plass, age 11, 6th grader @ Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences
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VOLUNTEER
Meet Michael Knupp, volunteer at Conservation Foundation
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Margaret Good filed a bill on Feb. 11 that will alter the Florida landscape: House Bill (HB) 737*. Ten months earlier, at the Science and Environment Council Environmental Summit held at New College in April 2018, Sean Patton (’15) presented an idea he calls multimodal biological control, or MBC. MBC is the use of complementary species to eliminate or reduce a target nuisance species. A nuisance species is a plant or animal that’s population has grown unchecked. HB 737 defines MBC as an important tool in the fight against water pollution in the state of Florida. HB 737 addresses the use of herbicides (often used to control nuisance species) and how they relate to water pollution. Currently, one is required to obtain a “water pollution operation permit” to dump any waste into state water, and otherwise must comply with the terms set out in state statutes. The water pollution operation permits include the use of herbicides in bodies of water to control native plants, algae or invasive exotic plants. HB 737 amends several state statutes to require that herbicide discharge into state water is only allowed if MBC is attempted on the ecosystem first. The bill also defines MBC, calling it “the use of complementary native species to control aquatic plants, algae, or invasive exotic plants at the surface, middle, and bottom of an aquatic environment.” Continued on page 31
Spring Break begins with the Amish
By Philip M. Farrell, MD, PhD
Incredible as it seems, spring break trips to Siesta Key did not begin with college students but started during the 1930s with excursions by devout groups of Anabaptists— both Amish and Mennonites. During December to April, one of the most impressive sights on Siesta/Crescent Beach is the daily appearance of the Amish with their distinctive garb. They begin arriving by bicycle or on the SCAT #33 bus; Sarasota County’s busiest during those four months. It picks them up in Pinecraft at the corner of Hines and Clarinda Streets, next to the unique Amish church. They speak German while riding and may stop off at the Village, but more likely go right to the beach for a day of fun in the sun— just like their ancestors. Continued on page 32
Anabaptist women walking the beach while enjoying conversations and the surf