SMSKA Newsletter March 2017 Page 1

The Mission of SMSKA is to provide an action forum for property owners and others with vested interest in the ambiance, economy, ecology, beauty, recreation and culture of this

area, as well as to foster community among residents.

A View from the Beach!

South Manasota Sandpiper Key Association News

March 2017

F.Y.I. (Also check the SMSKA website at http://Smskafl.org)

Englewood, Fla. (February 3, 2017) – A single span of the Tom Adams Bridge will be operational to boat traffic at scheduled openings daily. Openings will start at 8am and will occur in 90 mi-nute intervals. The last opening daily will be at 6:30pm. The bridge will remain closed to boat traffic at all other times. This schedule will remain in place until further notice.

March 1: Parks & Recreation meet at 1:00 pm at the Library, Forest Nelson, Port Charlotte, Parks & Recreation has jurisdiction over Englewood Beach along with our Parks System.

March 3: Beaches & Shores meets at 9 a.m. Murdock Circle, Building Services Building.

South Manasota Sandpiper Key Association March 13, 2017 2:00 pm

Gulf to Bay Clubhouse 2295 North Beach Road

Guest Speaker:

Retired North Port Police Officer, Sean Viara, will speak on the subject of IDENTITY THEFT. Sean joined us last May but the subject is timelier as each week a new threat to our identity appears.

The Next Regular Membership meeting will be April 10, 2017

Remember we have “cookies & conversation” 30 minutes prior to the meeting!

ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS AND INTERESTS OF OUR MEMBERS!

South Manasota Sandpiper Key Association

FROM WHERE I SIT ….. It's the perfect place to read, ponder the future or consider the past. I recently read a “memoir” written by

a gentleman who called himself the oldest living resident of Manasota Key. Entitled: “Manasota Key, Florida – Some Reminiscences” was published in 1968. I have a photo copy of this and would dearly love to have the orig-inal. He describes an island very different from the one we now inhabit. Accessible only by boat or bridge on the north end it was a virtual paradise. I liked his explanation of how these long narrow barrier islands called keys are formed. “…the ocean waves tend to form shallow bars off shore. Once a bit of these bars become ex-posed, seeds from bird droppings or blown in by the wind start some sort of vegetation. This in turn catches sand and builds up to form dry land. Then the wind blows dry sand up and gradually builds up high land and dunes.”

He also talks about another phenomenon - erosion. He describes the process beautifully. “ Along with the building up and the increase of land by accretion there is also the process of erosion by wave action. In the nat-ural state sand tends to drift southward along our beach so what is lost at one place is replaced by sand drifting in from the north.” Alas, man's intervention has changed all of that, with building of jetties or groins and other structures the natural littoral drift has been altered forever. Today our beloved beach is eroding at the rate of 4 feet a year and there isn't enough sand to replace it.

In the early 50s, residents recognized the possibility of the Key becoming another Miami Beach covered with pavement and scores of hotels and apartment style buildings crowding the beach. In 1950 the Old Galleon's Reach Conservation and Protective Association was incorporated and a number of contiguous property owners in Galleon's Reach put voluntary restrictions in their deeds similar to the RES -1 in Sarasota County Zoning Regu-lations. This organization was the precursor to the three Associations on Manasota Key: The North Manasota Key Association; The Manasota Key Association and the South Manasota Sandpiper Key Association.

All of this history got me to thinking that today we must be even more vigilant and protective of the future of Manasota Key because each and every one of us is responsible for what happens here. Today erosion is of utmost concern, along with dredging of Stump Pass, beach renourishment, protecting wetlands and controlling storm water runoff. That is a formidable list and it will take “a village” to produce the best outcomes. We have a village of sorts it's called South Manasota Sandpiper Key Association and I believe we are up to the task.

That task of preserving the casual island life is only possible with the active participation of SMSKA mem-bers. So won't you consider saying yes next time someone asks that you be an active member on a committee or to become an officer. And, no you do not have to be a full time resident to be an officer. I thank you.

Joan Dunham Card, President.

The Story of Guinness by Brigid bailey

During the 18th century, the Irish will tell you that the greatest invention of all time took place. Guinness is an important part of the Irish life but the story behind its inception would make every realtor cry. Arthur Guinness opened his brewery in 1756.Three years later; he leased a plot of land for 9000 years for the small sum of £45 a year. So the Guinness Brewery has been located on that

site at St. James Gate on the banks of the River Liffy. From here, he invented a dark stout drink, commonly called the “black stuff,” which is made from Irish barley and wa-ter from the Wicklow Mountains. Employees had access to free pints of stout during the day. Mr. Guinness felt it would keep their mind on the job! Guinness is sold throughout the world

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HUMANS HELPING WILDLIFE by Dr. William Dunson

It is heartwarming to see various local examples in SW Florida of people

assisting wildlife to survive.

Birds that are primarily beach species are in a struggle for existence, yet at Englewood Beach the gulls, terns, and shorebirds are appreciated by the

many people who enjoy the sand and surf. In-deed this beach park seems to provide a refuge of where the birds feel safe, likely because the county and state beach ban on dogs is honored by all. What a great example of how people and birds can share a common space.

Usually we would not consider a small board floating on the water to be desirable, but this young snowy egrt within Cape Haze Mari-na was able to use it as fishing platform . A group

on a CHEC boat tour enjoyed watching this clever egret's surfing skills. You can tell it is a young bird since the legs are half yellow and half black.

An anhinga sunning on our dock felt secure there and uses it to dry off after a session of fishing underwater. Although it has been suggested that these birds may warm up by facing the sun with open wings in the morning, this late afternoon behavior with the back to the sun seems more likely to be a method of drying off. It is quite unusual to see an anhinga in a salt wa-ter area since they apparently lack salt glands and normally fish only in fresh water.

Since many man-made ponds are deep and places to bask are very limited, this raft construct-ed for a pond at Wildflower Preserve has attract-

ed a male peninsula cooter turtle to catch a few rays. This not only allows it to warm up and enhance digestion, but dries growths and parasites that attach to the skin. The long tail reveals that this is a male.

Monarchs are attracted to many local yards to milkweeds that are planted for them. This female is laying eggs on a giant milkweed. The eggs are tiny yellowish oval capsules that are often subject to predation by paper wasps, as are the caterpillars. So we bring the leaves inside with the eggs attached and hatch them. Then the caterpillars can grow up in safety for later release outside.

So there are many simple ways we can help our precious wildlife to thrive, even in the midst of

our human-dominated landscape.

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Official Coast Guard Notice: Stump Pass Dredging Project

The dredge can be reached on marine VHF channels 13, 16 and 72

Project Engineer is Wes Perry. His phone # is: 630-207-3999

Operations Manager is Christopher Faught. His phone # is 630-632-2335

This information is being provided to you by the

Government Affairs Committee of the Englewood Florida

Chamber of Commerce

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MOMMY DEAREST IS A GATOR by William Dunson

As I was walking quietly along one of the trails at Wildflower Preserve that borders the upper end of Lemon Creek, I was surprised to find a six foot gator in shallow water, that did not move away on my approach. Then I saw a baby swim by her head and noticed more than a dozen babies nearby, some hatched this year and some last year. The isolated shallow brackish lagoon seems an ide-al nursery area for the babies. As I took photos, some retreated into a gator den dug along the bank.

What an idyllic scene for these prehistoric survivors of the dinosaur's disap-pearance, and how charming that they have found a refuge within Wildflower Preserve. Under their mother's protection they have a reasonable chance of sur-viving the many perils of life in the marsh and swamp. Under the protection of

the Lemon Bay Conservancy we hope their mother is also safe from humans. It is imperative for the ecolog-ical health of this natural area that gators remain as top predators. For one thing, any breeding water birds will be predated by raccoons if the water be-neath their nests is not patrolled by alligators.

Important dates in March

March 12th – Daylight saving Time begins

March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day - “Slanta!”

March 20th – Spring begins

Tuesdays – 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Gulf Breeze Bluegrass Band – Free –

Location: Gazabo behind the Englewood Elks Club. Bring your chairs.

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South Manasota Sandpiper Key Association

February 13, 2016 - Meeting Summary –

Submitted by President Joan Dunham-Card

Call to Order at 2:00pm. Community Affairs – Deputy Burke reported that, over a 90 day period, the department answered 591

calls: 390 were self-generated and 100 were traffic stops. The statistics reveal no serious crimes being committed.

Guest Speaker – Ed Hill Executive Director, Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce, provided an

overview on the Chamber, it's mission and recent successful events. For more information on the Cham-ber visit the Chamber office or log on to the website.

There was no secretary's report. Treasurers Report – There is a balance of $15,473.32; contact the treasurer for a complete report. Environmental – Andy Wing reported that the Parks and Recreation will be installing 52 lights in the

park at Englewood Beach; yes, they will be turtle friendly. He also reported that residents may contact the Property Appraisers office if they believe that their property values have been affected by the beach erosion. Email Andy for contact information. awlhlm65@netzero.com

Membership Committee – No report Social Committee – the committee is still accepting reservations for the Spring Fling on March 20. Con-

tact Carol Ashton at 473-7065 for details and to make a reservation. MSTU – next meeting May 10 agenda to be announced - ARC - Danny Monica invited members to attend those meetings – FYI: no permit is needed to install

pavers on private driveways. A permit is needed to extend into County Right of Way. Old Business – SMSKA secretary needed New Business – none Announcements – Workshop #4 Beach Renourishment Funding TBD March 13 meeting guest speaker Sean Viara “Protect Yourself From Identity Theft” Adjourned at 3:30.

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