ENGLEWOOD State rangers didnt throw precaution to the wind when they flew a purple flag this week at Stump Pass State Beach State Park on Manasota Key.

Color-coded flags indicate beach conditions. A purple flag indicates that sea life may be hazardous to swimmers and beachgoers.

In this case, jellyfish floated too close to shore. Jellyfish generally are carried by currents close to Gulf beaches this time of year. They can wash up on the beach, sometimes in big numbers.

Currently, Gasparilla Island State Park, Cayo Costa State Park and Stump Pass Beach State Park are flying a purple flag, denoting that stinging marine life namely jellyfish may be present in the waters, said Alexandra Kuchta, deputy press secretary for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

It didnt seem to deter beachgoers, who were plentiful at the beach Tuesday.

To greater or lesser degree, Mote Marine Laboratorys daily beach condition reports at visitbeaches.org have cautioned beachgoers when jellyfish drift into shallow waters or wash onto Gulf beaches.

The reports Tuesday indicated a few jellyfish were reported in beaches throughout Sarasota County. However, the county beaches flew green flags, indicating low hazards and calm conditions.

Based on what lifeguards have observed at Sarasota County beaches, there is not a significant number of jellyfish, Sarasota County Emergency Management media relations officer Sara Nealeigh said Tuesday.

If a significant number were to be observed, lifeguards will fly the appropriate flag, Nealeigh said.

No jellyfish were reported a mile north of Stump Pass Beach at Charlotte Countys Englewood Beach either.

The local jellyfish season generally extends from late summer into early fall. Recent reports also tell of jellyfish inundating the waters of Atlantic beaches from Florida to the Carolinas and beyond.

In local waters, the moon jellyfish are common, so are nettle, comb and pink meanie jellyfish. The Atlantic sea nettle jellyfish one of the most common jellyfish species found in the Gulf of Mexico appear periodically in the shoreline waters of local beaches.

All jellyfish can sting from cells, called cnidocytes, on their tentacles that paralyze zooplankton and other prey. The intensity of the sting can vary immensely among the different species. Some stings are never felt.

The levels of discomfort or severity from those stings may vary from person to person. Moon jellyfish stings feel like having hot pepper juices splattered on your skin, while nettle stings feel much like a bee sting that might last 45 minutes to two hours.

If you do get stung, doctors recommend removing the stinger carefully with tweezers and soaking the stung area in hot water.

The rest is here:

Purple flag flies at some beaches, but where are the jellyfish? - yoursun.com

Beaches along Alabama's Gulf Coast have reopened more than two weeks after Hurricane Sally struck.

Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island and Baldwin County announced that all beaches are reopening after the Sept. 16 storm damaged homes and businesses and sliced the Gulf State Park pier in half. Beaches are open starting at 6 a.m.

The reopening date for popular beach destinations along the Alabama coastline has been pushed afterHurricane Sally"significantly damaged" th

All is not well, however. AL.com reports that "piles of debris are visible on roadways. In Gulf Shores, the West Beach area remains inundated with debris piled up on sidewalks. Tourist attractions remain mostly closed, and only 60% of beach rental units have reopened. Of the 24 hotels in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, only four are open this weekend. ...

"The only access onto the beaches in Baldwin County is through a private rental agency, if they are open for business. City officials are recommending visitors to contact the condominiums manager to make sure they have reopened and that its safe to visit."

"Now is not the best time to come to the beaches of Gulf Shores, said Grant Brown, recreation and cultural affairs director for the city of Gulf Shores," told AL.com.

Public access points in Orange Beach, Gulf State Park and Gulf Shores remain closed until further notice. The affected access points include Gulf Place, Little Lagoon Pass Park and several others.

The closures are due to safety concerns, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said. The access points should reopen in mid-October, the department said, but a reopening date for Gulf State Park has not been set and all trails remain closed.

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Four Alabama Gulf Coast beaches say they've reopened after Hurricane Sally - NOLA.com

From left: Chris Maling, Donald K. DeWoody Jr., David Maling, and Alfredo Sanchez

A North Palm Beach mixed-use property hit the market for $44.75 million, amid uncertainty in the office and retail markets.

The 118,000-square-foot complex at 1201 U.S. Highway 1 is on 7.9 acres, according to a press release. Called Crystal Cove Commons and Crystal Tree, the property features 75,000 square feet of ground-floor retail next to a four-story office building.

An affiliate of Black Lion Investment owns the complex, which was built in 1982. The Beverly Hills-based commercial real estate firm is led by Robert Rivani.

Avison Youngs Chris Maling, David Maling, Donald K. DeWoody Jr. and Alfredo Sanchez have the listing, according to the release.

Black Lion bought the complex in 2016 for $14 million, or $120 per square foot, and renovated it two years later. The property, now asking about $379 per square foot, is 90 percent occupied. Tenants include a Tervis store, Cod & Capers Seafood Marketplace and Cafe and the BioMetrix clinic and gym.

Office lease rates are $17 a square foot a year, an online listing shows.

Recent office sales in Palm Beach County include $49.8 million for a Palm Beach Gardens office complex built by Jack Nicklaus development company and $80 million for the DiVosta Tower, also in Palm Beach Gardens.

The sales come despite the strain on the South Florida office market due to employers reliance on remote working amid the pandemic.

In February, Black Lion sold the 6,900-square-foot space on the ground-floor and mezzanine level of the Four Ambassadors building in Miamis Brickell area to a Turkish entertainment company for $1,232 per square foot.

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North Palm Beach mixed-use property hits the market for $45M - The Real Deal

After more than six months, some nightlife spots reopened for the first time after Gov. Ron DeSantis OK'd Phase 3 reopening. South Beachs Mynt Lounge was one of them. Miami-Dade County is currently under an 11 p.m. curfew, so nightclubs are operating on condensed hours.

NBC 6 anchor Sheli Muiz spoke to the owner and managing partner of Mynt, Romain Zago.

SHELI: How does that work with an 11 p.m. curfew?

ZAGO: Well, it is still painful. I mean it's better than nothing, though. We'll take anything we can, but every club or lounge has minimum payroll and fees to open. It costs a lot of money to reopen so having a small opening from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. is extremely painful for us. We wanted to respect the 50% capacity, we did, but it wasn't hard. I think the most we had one night, maybe, was reaching 30% capacity. It's hard to come before 10, they don't even go to dinner before 9. Imagine a nightclub.

SHELI: How did the first weekend go? What does it look like now with social distancing?

ZAGO: Well, on the first evening, no one showed up before 9:30 p.m. We were about to cry, so basically people stayed just over an hour. Friday and Saturday, we had a bit more people. We had about 30% far from the 50% we wanted to reach. The social distancing made itself by itself. We don't really need to scare people away. It goes against the philosophy of a nightclub, which is to meet people, so it's a challenge.

SHELI: So does it cost more to stay open for a couple of hours than youre making?

ZAGO: That's a very good question. Im not going to lie to you, we did lose money Thursday, we barely broke even on Friday and Saturday, but at least it generates payroll and we can help employees that need to generate income.

SHELI: Do you get the sense that people are comfortable going into a nightclub?

ZAGO: Oh, you have no idea how much people are begging us to remain open. Begging.I know they were driving to Broward from Miami painfully. People dont care anymore, people want their freedom back. Listen, the difference between us and Disneyland is that whenever you go to a lounge, you dont go back home to grandma or grandpa. You're an adult and you go back home, and you live alone or to your wife, but you're not endangering anybody else. No one over the age of 65 is going to a nightclub. It's completely irrational.

Zago says the lack of Miami nightlife is not only hurting the respective businesses, but the hotel industry and tourism.

ZAGO: If you remove the nightlife, its like removing the hotel life. One depends on the other. Why would you come to Miami if theres not a nightclub to go to at the end of the night?

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South Beach Nightclub Owner Talks About Reopening With Condensed Hours - NBC 6 South Florida

Last week, with off-season beach driving open on many of our local beaches, I offered some tips to avoid the inevitable, at least to avoid getting stuck as the result of avoidable errors and bad judgement. I covered Things to now before you go and Going. This week, how about Stopping and options when IT happens.

First of all, don't hit the brakes but let your car coast to a stop. Gravity and friction are your friends in stopping. And when you are going to be stopping, plan ahead. You should choose the time and place to stop, start and turn.

Remember, the next thing you will want to do is GO. Stop on a down slope where possible, Keep gravity on your side. Pick out a down slope with the firmest sand you can find. After you stop, kick out the sand that piles up, especially ahead of the front tires. Know thy tides and watch the time. The beach shrinks quickly on the rising tide from hard sand to soft sand.

But when IT does happen, do not under any circumstance put your pedal to the metal, throwing sand and bottoming out on your undercarriage. Instead, dig out before you bottom out. Move sand away from the tires and smooth out tire ruts. Give yourself enough room to find mo(mentum) again. If going forward fails, try backing out. Sand is flatter where you were than where you are going. And oh, by the way, lower tire pressure now if you haven't already, with 18 to 20 pounds tire pressure giving you way more traction.

Now were getting serious. It may be time to find a good Samaritan 4 x 4 with a tow strap or chain. There are often fellow anglers with appropriate heavy-duty gear willing to pull you out. Pushing helps, but remember, it's bad form to run over the pusher or bury them in sand.

Sometimes, more IT happens! How does changing a flat tire on something not quite unlike grits sound? This is where your wooden board comes into play as support for your car jack. This is not an uncommon problem, especially during hurricane season when nail-laden debris can litter the beach. And make sure you carry a real spare tire, not one of those cartoon donuts. They will not cut it on the beach. As you drive, also be aware of other possible hazards like beach-going bathers, still active turtle nests and those holes in the sand that look like someone dug with their beach backhoe.

When all else fails, its time to call the tow truck. Does your local garage do beach calls ($$$.00)? How about your local bulldozer? Yes, we have seen a bulldozer rescue in recent memoryI have the photos (thanks Bil G.).

Finally, remember the local speed limit is 20 mph. Drive responsibly, or we may lose the privilege. And please let common sense and common courtesy rule. Well, good luck on the beach, and may your tires find only the firmest of sand.

---------------------

Fall is in the air, and fish are starting to respond.

This past weekend, there was a successful surf fishing tournament out of Freemans Bait and Tackle on the Atlantic Beach causeway. I mention this because from the catches weighed in, we can get a feel for the surf fishing. The tourney was held from the Fort Macon rock jetty to what is left of the pier at the Double Tree (formerly Sheraton) Hotel.

So how did it go?

Best catches were the bluefish, many in the 4- to 5-pound range, and how about sea mullet to 2 pounds? As far as the drum, there were good numbers of slot black drum but a disappointing number of red drum. Best reports of red drum catches? Ocracoke appears in blitz mode. And there are reports of above-slot fish in the White Oak River.

Other incidental tourney catches include scattered spots and croakers, some medium-sized pompano and a decent number of Spanish up to 2 pounds and over.

---------------------

Interestingly, if you go west along Bogue Banks to The Point area of Emerald Isle, the main catches are blues, some big, but not a lot of other fish.

In the area around Bogue Inlet Pier and the main ocean access areas of Emerald Isle, there are scattered spots, sea mullet and pompano, along with the blues.

Another fall visitor is the speedy false albacore, and there are fish from the beach on out to 10 miles. Fish have also been landed from the surf and both Oceanana and Bogue Inlet piers. Speckled trout in the surf remain very scattered.

I mentioned spots, and no, I havent seen the spot yachts stacked up in the Intracoastal yet, but it may not be far away. The fish are moving out of the backwaters into the surf as they ready for spawning season. There are good catches reported in the Morehead City Turning Basin and around Beaufort Inlet and some showing at the piers too. So, soon!

---------------------

As we wait for the surf speckled trout season to get into high gear, the inside catches remain strong.

And did ya hear about the 7.76-pound speck landed from The Haystacks on a topwater Zara Spook? It doesnt get any better that that. Wow!

I checked out the local creeks over the weekend, and but for the rain, would have limited out throwing a Betts Halo Shrimp along the edges of the schools of abundant peanut menhaden. Fish werent big but were still very frisky 15- to 16-inchers.

---------------------

Now for the piers:

Oceanana Pier had a good week, releasing a 25-pound red, along with catches of blues to 4 pounds, Spanish, pompano and scattered spots.

Bogue Inlet Pier had a great king week with nine weighed in up to 32 pounds. Of course, this week is their annual king mackerel tournament. I hope they do as well. There are also big Spanish, blues, slot reds, small pompano and sea mullet, mostly small. And there has been a real bluefish blitz with most fish pushing 5 pounds.

Seaview Pier also reports several kings last week, along with a good spot bite, pompano, mullet red and black drum.

Surf City reports spots, pompano, Spanish and blues, but no kings.

Finally, Jolly Roger Pier reports muddy water, some Spanish, mullet and spots.

---------------------

Offshore, the wahoo bite is back on as you now can get there from here.

There are also mahi and blackfin tuna.

---------------------

It was fun to post a positive report this week. It can only get better.

So be kind, drive the beach safely, catch fish, and enjoy our lovely this fall beaches.

Bogus notes

1) Check me out at http://www.Facebook.com/Dr.Bogus.) Log onto my web site at http://www.ncoif.com. Its repaired and up and running and better than ever.

2) "Ask Dr. Bogus" is on the radio every Monday at 7:30 a.m. WTKF 107.1 FM and 1240 AM. The show is also replayed on Sunday morning at 6 a.m. Callers may reach me at 800-818-2255.

3) Im located at 118 Conch Ct. in Sea Dunes, just off Coast Guard Road, Emerald Isle, NC 28594. The mailing address is P.O. Box 5225, Emerald Isle, NC 28594. Dont forget a gift certificate for your favorite angler for fishing lessons or my totally Bogus Fishing Report subscription. Please stop by at any time and say Hi or call 252-354-4905.

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Tips for beach drivers when Stopping and options when IT happens - Carolinacoastonline

It's Fire Prevention Week. This year's campaign theme is Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.

The kitchen is the heart of most homes and as we prepare for the holidays, the Virginia Beach Fire Department has a warning for all families.

Just a moment away from the stove can lead to a race against the clock in the kitchen.

Virginia Beach firefighters demonstrated how that can easily happen in any home during a fire demo on Wednesday. The presentation was part of National Fire Prevention Week. This years campaign theme is Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.

For the first nine months of this year, in Virginia Beach alone, we responded to well over 60 kitchen fires, said Virginia Beach Fire Department Spokesperson Art Kohn.

Kohn said firefighters even responded to a kitchen fire on Wednesday morning.

Unattended cooking is the leading cause for residential fires and the second leading cause for home fire injuries, Kohn said.

Kohn said people should put out smaller fires by first turning off the stove and covering the flames with a metal lid.

Baking soda also does the trick.

Dont try to pick up that pan and move it, Kohn said.

Kohn said a small kitchen fire can create a lot more damage and even turn deadly if people try to throw water on it. He said its the last thing you should do.

Weve all heard the expression its like throwing gasoline on a fire, Kohn said. Well, you see what happens when you throw water on a grease fire.

In a study, the National Fire Prevention Association reported that between 2014 and 2018 U.S. firefighters battled more than 172,000 house fires per year that started in the kitchen. They caused more than 500 deaths and over 4,000 injuries.

They are often relatively small fires contained to the point of origin, yet people are dying in these fires, Kohn said. So, thats why it is important.

Kohn said a golden rule is to never leave the stove unattended.

The things that are common sense are the things that we are most likely to take for granted, Kohn said. Thats why simple stuff like this, we have to keep in mind.

Fire Prevention Week runs through October 10.

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Virginia Beach firefighters warn about the dangers of kitchen fires - 13newsnow.com WVEC

Jessica Cejnar / Today @ 5:14 p.m. / Community, Local Government Beach Fire Ordinance Update Delayed; Councilors Ask Staff To Survey Property Owners on Bluff Between 6th Street and Battery Point

Revelers build bonfires on the beach in Crescent City on July 4, 2018. Photo: Jessica Cejnar

Previously

'We're Going to be Southern California Before We Know It'; Mayor Pro Tem Balks At Extending Beach Fire Ban Area

Crescent City Council Gets Heated Over Beach Fires, Calls For Revamping 40-year-old Ordinance

###

Instead of agreeing to an updated beach fire law, City Councilors asked staff to gauge property owners opinions on whether or not they should be banned out right.

The updated ordinance, brought to the Crescent City Council on Monday, extended an existing ban to include the area between 6th Street in the north and Battery Point in the south. It removed existing language referring to city-provided fire pits in that area since there are none. The ordinance sets limits on the fires size, where they can be built and prohibits the burning of inorganic material, City Attorney Martha Rice told Councilors.

The ordinance update also makes it a municipal code violation to build and maintain a fire on private property, Rice said.

(Thats) so private property owners do not have to simply rely on trespass for legal requirements, but they can also have a sort of immediate enforcement tool if theres somebody trespassing and building a fire on private property, she said. It also addresses the abandonment of fire. Its unlawful for anyone on private or public property to abandon a beach fire until it has been completely extinguished.

Though staffs goal was to introduce the ordinance Monday and bring it back for the Council to adopt on Oct. 19, Councilors had a different opinion after listening to several conflicting comments from residents living in the area.

Im wondering, given the fact that weve heard from homeowners and given the fact that we can clearly identify property owners within that stretch, if there would be a value to simply doing outreach to each one of those homeowners and getting input other than just in this public forum, Crescent City Mayor Blake Inscore said. I want to get this right once. I dont want to do it and have four more people (speak) at the next meeting as were getting ready to vote on it and have to start the process again. Id rather put it off for two more weeks than introduce it tonight and upend the cart in two weeks.

Some residents, like Roger and Angela Gitlin, Tamera Leighton and Linda Perry supported the changes to the existing ordinance, which was established in 1980.

Leighton told Councilors she supported the changes as a first step, but that shed also favor a complete ban on fires built in the sand in the residential area between Lighthouse Way and 6th Street. She also advocated for clear prominent signs for the public informing them of the rules regarding beach fires.

Other residents, like Natalie Fahning, who cited cases where homeowners in Carmel, California and Newport complained about smoke from blazes that were up to 350 feet away from them.

Map showing area where beach fires outside city-provided rings are prohibited. There are no rings in that area, according to City Manager Eric Wier.

In Crescent City, most fires are set by people staying at nearby vacation rentals, Fahning said.

A 4-by-4 fire is huge, she said. And just 20 feet from vegetation or other combustibles? On an onshore windy day, imagine that blowing toward our houses. Its way too close to nearby homes.

Herman Rinkel, one of six candidates for Crescent City Council this election who lives on Wendell Street near the bluff, said he understands weighing private property owners rights versus those of the general public. But he argued that fires shouldnt be allowed there because of the density of homes in the area and inability for residents to create a defensible space.

Rinkel also asked Councilors to create a definition that details exactly where fires can and cant be and how far away they should be from vegetation.

I think it is still ambiguous as to where a private property owner can build a fire, he said.

According to Crescent City Fire Chief Bill Gillespie, the proposed 20-foot setback between a beach fire and vegetation is tied to wind conditions. He noted that people burning brush on their properties within the county have a clearance requirement of about 10 feet and said 20 feet was considered allowable on a typical summer type evening with not a lot of wind.

Gillespie also pointed out that the North Coast Air Quality Management District sets burning days based on air quality as well as wind. Calfire also sets restrictions on when brush pile burning can take place, Gillespie said.

Even if the ordinance says 20 feet is the distance, if local conditions dont make (a fire) safe, we would have the ability to say, We understand its 20 feet, however youre blowing sparks into the brush and grass. We need to put the fire out, Gillespie told Councilors.

Inscore and his colleagues Jason Greenough and Alex Fallman said they felt the updated beach fire law was a good balance between regulating peoples behavior and allowing for a bit of freedom for private property owners. The proposed new ordinance also gives law enforcement and firefighters the ability to enforce those regulations, Greenough said, though he also argued for better signs.

Mayor Pro Tem Heidi Kime, though she supported restricting the size of the fire as well as what people could burn, continued to be the lone hold-out among her colleagues on a ban between Battery Point and 6th Street.

Kime noted that for those with beachfront property, their boundaries are ambiguous depending on where the high tide line is.

If I walk along the beach, I could suddenly find myself walking along private property at some point, she said. Am I now no longer going to have that beach access? I wonder. Thats where we start regulating our beaches up here and taking away the wonderful wholesome family fun, the hot dogs and marshmallows that all of us responsible individuals enjoy.

Kime said there should be repercussions against those who burn mattresses, trash and other gross disgusting materials.

Theyre ecoterrorists and they should be dealt with in such a way that if you are dumping garbage on the beach and burning garbage on the beach, there needs to be repercussions for that, she said. The repercussion is not to ban bonfires for wholesome family fun. I cant get behind this.

Crescent City Manager Eric Wier told Councilors that staff could reach out to property owners along that stretch of bluff, including the owners of Oceanfront Lodge at 100 A Street.

Inscore noted that if the requested additional information means the beach fires ordinanced wont be formally introduced until the first meeting in November, a new City Council may vote on the final outcome.

Kime, who is not seeking re-election to the City Council in November, agreed to this.

I dont want to be part of a Council that bans bonfires, she said.

View post:

Beach Fire Ordinance Update Delayed; Councilors Ask Staff To Survey Property Owners on Bluff Between 6th Street and Battery Point - Lost Coast Outpost

Kristina Webb|Palm Beach Post

Looking for something to do this weekend?Events are returning, with new precautions in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Most events require face coverings and ask attendees to practice social distancing. Check with event organizers if you have questions.

More: How Halloween Crawl will work this Saturday in Palm Beach County and how to participate

Food Trucks in the Parks:Food trucks will be stationed in neighborhood parks around Wellington from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Here is this weeks lineup:

For more information, call 561-753-2484.

More: Wellington to have Creepy Crawl a Halloween event fit for a pandemic

Twilight Green Market: Wellington's Twilight Green Market is 5 to 9 p.m. Friday on the new Town Center Promenade along the Lake Wellington waterfront behind the community center, 12150 Forest Hill Blvd. Vendors will sell food, beverages, crafts and more. For more information, including a vendors list and details on COVID-19 precautions, go to http://www.wellingtonfl.gov.

Food Truck Expo and Concert in the Park:Royal Palm Beachs free weekly events are back with new COVID-19 protocols in place, including enforced social distancing and a mask requirement. The event is 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Commons Park, 11600 Poinciana Blvd. Food trucks will be on-site with a variety of food and drinks. The band Jahzilla goes on stage at 7 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.royalpalmbeach.com.

More: Wellington eyes ways to restrict fireworks in and near equestrian areas

Royal Palm Beach Green Market and Bazaar: Royal Palm Beach's Green Market and Bazaar is back from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through April next to Village Hall,1050 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Some new precautions are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including one-way pedestrian paths and enforced social distancing. Vendors have crafts, fresh fruit and vegetables, beverages and more for sale. For more information, go to http://www.rpbgreenmarket.com.

Free movie: There will be a free showing of "Underwater," rated PG-13 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd. Spaces are limited and registration is required via Eventbrite. Bring your own seating. Face coverings are required, and attendees are required to following social distancing and public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. No food or drinks will be for sale on-site so people should bring their own. No alcohol, smoking or pets are allowed. Admission is free. To register, go to http://www.eventbrite.com and search "Village of Wellington Florida." You will be asked to show your confirmation QR code to enter. One ticket is required per person ages 3 and older. For more information, go to http://www.wellingtonfl.gov.

Greenacres Green Market and Bazaar:Travel just outside Wellington and Royal Palm Beachfor the Greenacres Green Market and Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through April at Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park, 2905 Jog Road. Local vendors will sell food, drinks, crafts and more. This Sunday marks the grand opening of the markets inaugural season. Facial coverings and social distancing are required. For more information, go to http://www.greenacresgreenmarket.com.

kwebb@pbpost.com

@kristinawebb

See more here:

Things to do in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach: Green markets, concert, food trucks - Palm Beach Post

Janet Begley, Special to TCPalm Published 5:01 p.m. ET Oct. 7, 2020

Vero Beach City Hall(Photo: SAM WOLFE/TCPALM)

VERO BEACH Nearly 200 new housing units could be built here after the City Council Tuesday approved annexing land along Indian River Boulevard.

Schwerin Asset Advisors of Vero Beach had asked the city to annex the 24 acres, at the southeast corner of Indian River Boulevard near 41st Street. The council voted unanimously for the annexation and set a final adoption hearing for Nov.17.

City zoning rules would allow construction of up to 10 units per acre, butSchwerin Asset Advisors said it would limit development to the eight units per acre currently allowed by the county zoning code.

More: Vero Beach closer to getting classic-car museum on U.S. 1

However, because of the lands proximity to the Indian River Lagoon, Vice Mayor Laura Moss questioned why it is not considered environmentally sensitive.

As you can see, eventually everything that can be developed will be developed, said Moss. And when you have development, it has impact, and it is environmentally sensitive since it isso close to the lagoon.

The land is located near other multi-use properties along Indian River Boulevard,according toCommunity Development Director Jason Jeffries.It is bordered on the east by conservation land owned by the Indian River Land Trust; onthe north by aresidential community; and on the west by land under development for apartments.

More: Post-pandemic plan unveiled for Three Corners development

A traffic study commissioned by developers found the property has the potential for 189 multi-family units such as townhomes.

Those additional homes would create 1,028 additional vehicle trips per day, well within the road's capacity, the study found.

City Manager Monte Falls said it makes sense for property owners to seek annexation into the city.

"Id like to think everybody would like to annex into the city of Vero Beach because of the service they get from us and the personal attention, said Falls. "We have a great law-enforcement group, and I think they get personal attention here at all times.

Janet Begley is a local freelance writer. If you like articles like this and other TCPalm coverage of Treasure Coast news, please support our journalism and subscribe now.

Read or Share this story: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/2020/10/07/vero-beach-could-gain-more-housing-result-24-acre-annexation/5912044002/

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Annexation could bring nearly another 200 housing units to Vero Beach - TCPalm

Venice woman missing since Sept. 30

Kimberly Kuizon reports

VENICE, Fla. - Venice police are asking for the publics help finding Tracey Lynn Rieker, 44, who left her home Wednesday, September 30, and hasn't been seen or heard from since.

Tracey is described as apetite 5-foot-4, 120-pound woman, and has blonde hair and brown eyes, with a heart tattooed on her ring finger.

A wife and mother of four,Tracey's disappearance weighs heavily on her loved ones.

"This is completely opposite of who Tracey is.Its alarming," said Tracey's husband, Christian Rieker. "She was having trouble sleeping and wasnt eating a whole lot."

Christian said he last saw his wife Sept. 30 around 3 a.m. at their home in Venice. He said when he woke up that morning, her cell phone and wallet were left behind. Tracey and her car were gone.

Tracey and Christian Rieker

Christian said his wife had been focused on religion and talking to others about God, especially amid the pandemic.

"She was so concerned about COVID [that]she wouldnt go anywhere, but the importance of her message has kind of freed her of that fear, I think," he said.

Christian said the day before Tracey left, she was spreading her message at Bradenton Beach.

"I really think she was just going to talk about God. I dont know if she meant it to be an extended leave," he said.

Venice police, along with her friends and family, are searching for Tracey. A Facebook page created to help her now has more than 1,000followers.

"I'm absolutely worried that someone would take advantage of her kindness and her free spirit and shes just out there just trying to help people and deliver a message she thinks is more important than anything else," said Christian.

Groups of Tracey's friends and strangers are searching beaches, parks, and areas Tracey was known to visit. Christian said he just wants to find Tracey and bring her home.

"Tracey, we need you home, we just want to know youre OK. More than anything tell us what your plan is, we will support whatever you are trying to get done. We just want to let you know we love you," he said.

Venice police say she has been frequenting area beaches to talk with people about God. They say she visited Lido Beach and Bradenton Beach on Sept. 28. She is also known to visit the North Port area.

Tracey drives a green Nissan Xterra with Florida tag PO8116. She has a heart tattoo on her ring finger.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Venice Police Department at 941-486-2444.

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Husband says missing mother-of-4 went to Bradenton Beach to proselytize day before disappearance - FOX 13 Tampa Bay

Police prepare for Biketoberfest

The Daytona Beach Police Department is asking visitors to follow guidelines during Biketoberfest activities.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Police in Daytona Beach are warning that crowds are expected in October as two events will roll into town.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri made a statement on Tuesday saying thatBiketoberfest will take place on October 15th through 18th, with Trucktoberfest following the next weekend.

"Despite the city commission not issuing event permits due to the coronavirus, were expecting big crowds on both those weekends, especially on beachside," Chief Capri said. "Weve been in close contact with the event organizers to make sure things run smoothly with minimum interruption for everyone, including our residents."

He added that police will also be paying special attention to those in beachside neighborhoodsso that eventgoersdo not use those roads to avoid traffic on main roads like Atlantic Avenue, citing that "large gatherings like these will likely make many people nervous, especially with their potential to become super spreader events."

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Chief Capri recommends that people follow CDC guidelines, including social distancing, washinghands, and wearing face masks.

"Thats the same message Im giving to all those who wear the Daytona Beach Police Department badge, especially those working during Biketoberfest and Trucktoberfest. Their safety and the safety of the families and loved ones is a priority and we wont be sending them into large crowds unless its necessary," he said. "You can never be too careful in these kinds of situations. If the President of the United States can get this virus, so can you. Until we have a cure or a vaccine in place, please do what you feel you must to keep yourself and those you love safe."

He ended his statement by wishing that those who attend the upcoming events have a good time and take proper safety precautions, stating that "this virus is no joke and its my hope that everyone takes this as serious as it needs to be."

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A "mystery creature" found at Padre Island National Seashore has left researchers at the beach a bit confused. They say they can't tell if it's a snake, eel or a combination of both.

On Monday, PINS shared a picture on its Facebook page of the animal a visitor found at its beach. The beach-goer sent a photo to PINS, and at first, researchers stated in the post that they thought the long, skinny creature might be a Texas blind snake, which looks like an earthworm.

"Given all the coastal flooding that has been occurring, we thought this might be a pretty good guess," PINS wrote.

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However, after looking at the picture more, PINS said the body structure of the creature resembled an eel more than a snake, which led the researchers to believe it may have been a snake eel.

Snake eels are known as burrowing eels and often hide in mud or sand to catch their prey, which is typically small fish or crustaceans, PINS wrote. Sometimes, snake eels can mimic the coloring of venomous sea snakes to deter predators, and are often washed ashore by large storms, the post noted.

PINS wrote that its team still doesn't know what the creature is, even after "endlessly researching" eels and snake eels that might live in the Gulf of Mexico on the Texas coast. But, for now, PINS wrote that it is sticking with snake eel.

"What do you think it might be?" PINS asked its Facebook followers.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre

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Padre Island National Seashore shares photo of 'mystery creature' discovered at beach - mySA