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OCTOBER 2018 941.349.0194 | ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC
LANDINGS VOLUNTEER
Landings resident Lou Grossman believes in the mission of Planned Parenthood
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VETERANS The Landings community salutes its Veterans
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KID’S CORNER
www.THELANDINGSOFSARASOTA.com
We All Contribute to Nitrogen Pollution By Dr. Abbey Tyrna, Water Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension & Sustainability Sarasota County NOTE: This is the first post in a series devoted to what you can do to reduce the duration of the next harmful algal bloom. (Reprinted with permission from author.) As we endure a terrible red tide outbreak on our coast, coupled with blue-green algae clogging inland waters, I hear many people ask what they can do to prevent the next algal bloom. Number one on that list is:
Reduce your nitrogen footprint You might be thinking, “Me? No. I don’t contribute nitrogen.” Unfortunately, you do. I do. In fact, we all contribute to increased levels of nitrogen entering our waterways. As a result, it is important to think about the individual actions each of us can take to help reduce the fuel (nitrogen) sustaining these blooms. While there are still many questions that need to be answered about bloom dynamics, one thing remains certain: we need to reduce the flow of nitrogen
entering our waterways. The good news is this isn’t a lost cause. We all can take actions right now to reduce our own nitrogen footprint, including: 1. Only fertilize your turfgrass and landscape plants when they need it. Plants tell you when they need nutrients. Look for signs of deficiency before applying fertilizer. Also, use no more than the UF/IFAS Extension recommendations, as found beginning on page 23 in the “Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Handbook.” 2. Always pick up your pet waste, even in your own yard. According to Access Sarasota: “Twenty-six tons of pet waste is dropped every day in Sarasota and Manatee counties” (2014). That is one source of nitrogen and harmful bacteria that easily can be eliminated just by scooping the poop and putting it in the trash. 3. Get your neighborhood ponds and lakes back into ecological balance. Build
On the November Ballot Phoebe Winters, 11, 6th grader at Pine View School
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CANDIDATE Q & A
A proposed Sarasota County charter amendment set to appear on the upcoming November ballot could give Siesta Key a greater voice on the County Commission. Or not... Proponents and opponents of the measure make compelling arguments both ways. The amendment – spearheaded by the group Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections (SAFE) – would scrap the county’s current ‘at-large’ commission districts, replacing them with ‘single-member’ districts. Currently, each county voter gets to cast a vote for a commission candidate in each of the county’s five commission districts,
and support the natural food web and create a native-vegetation buffer along the shoreline. For more information, contact me at the Extension office (941861-9818) or Mollie Holland of Sarasota County’s Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team at (941-861-5000). 4. Collect your stormwater by creating mini-wetlands in your yards and neighborhoods. Wetland loss has contributed to the increase flow of nitrogen into our streams, bays, and the gulf. Read my May 2018 post on the importance of Florida’s wetlands for more information. 5. Be an informed voter. Laws and regulations to protect our waters from nutrient pollution are in constant upheaval. From what defines a pollutant and what constitutes a protected body of water in the Clean Water Act to conservation program funds in the Farm Bill. Continued on page 26
By Robert Frederickson regardless of which district the voter happens to live in. If the amendment passes, that same voter would only cast a single vote in one commission race...the one for the seat representing their own district. The candidate running in each district would still be required to reside in the district they are hoping to represent. The amendment’s wording was released by the Supervisor of Elections office last week. This is how it will appear on the November 6th ballot: Continued on page 28
You’re invitedto tojoin joinininon onThe TheLandings Landings event You’re invited event
Trick or Treat Trail
Q & A with the two candidates for the County Commission District 4 seat currently held by Commissioner Alan Maio
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What: Trick oror Treaters. TheThe event purpose is tois provide a lit, adefined, What:AAluminary luminarytrail trailfor for Trick Treaters. event purpose to provide lit, and safe trail for our families during Halloween defined, and safe trail for our families during Halloween Where: Proposed: Pine Harrier Drive & PH Circle, heading south on Kestral Parkway North Where:through Proposed: Peregrine & Peregrine Flicker Field Circle Peregrine PointDrive, Drive,Kestral PP Way,Parkway PP CircleSouth W, and Point, then south (see pgFlicker 12) through Field Circle (see pg. 12 for map) When:Saturday SaturdayOctober October 2018 Time: 6pm – 9pm When: 27,27, 2018 Time: 6pm-9pm