Author: Scott Le Roy

Thanksgiving Day preparations can be stressful, especially when it comes to the turkey. Whether you’re cooking dinner on your boat, frying a turkey on the dock with your slip neighbors, or preparing a feast at your house, here are some essential safety guidelines to follow. After shopping or preparing food, make sure you refrigerate or freeze perishable food within two hours.When it comes to thawing in the fridge, allow 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of meat.You can also submerge the turkey in cold tap water to thaw. Make sure the turkey is in a container that won’t leak, and change the water every 30 minutes until thawed.Do NOT thaw meat on the counter. It’s not safe.If you’re cooking stuffing inside the turkey, confirm that the stuffing reaches the temperature necessary to kill potentially harmful bacteria.  According to the USDA, you should cook an 8-12lb turkey for 2.5-3 hours and a 12-14lb turkey for 3-4 hours.  If you suspect that food poisoning has...

With COVID-19 in full swing again, planning exciting dates has become a difficult task for couples. However, you’re in luck if you have a boat! There’s nothing quite as romantic as cruising on the water and relaxing under the stars. The best part is, it’s a great way to stay safe and social distance! Here are some tips for a romantic weekend boating adventure that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.  1. Make sure you have a plan.Spontaneity is fun, but there are things you need to plan for, such as unexpected delays, boating after sunset, provisioning mishaps, and more. You want the adventure to be romantic, not frantic.2. Keep it simple.There’s no need to overplan your getaway. However, it’s wise to have some solid ideas about the weekend agenda. Figure out how long you’ll be gone, how much fuel you’ll need, adequate food and beverages, what the weather is going to look like, the amount of clothing you’ll...

On Wednesday, Tropical Storm Eta approached Florida’s West Coast. That morning, the storm was downgraded from a Category 1 Hurricane to a Tropical Storm.  Manatee County was expected to see the worst from Eta late Wednesday evening. Around 7:30pm, The National Weather Service issued a flood warning as heavy rain fell. Two shelters opened at 12pm at Manatee High School in Bradenton and Mills Elementary in Palmetto. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, capacity was reduced.  As Eta approached, all of West Central Florida, including Manatee County, was under a tornado warning.  Eta caused hundreds of power outages, fortunately most of which have already been restored.  Fortunately, the worst is over! As always, stay safe during inclement weather. Check out our hurricane safety tips to learn more! ...

If you’re searching for a place to get tested for COVID-19 in Palmetto, look no further! The Florida Division of Emergency Management moved the test center from Lincoln Park to the Bradenton Area Convention Center. The convention center is located at 1 Haben Blvd. in Palmetto. Testing is available from 7am to 11:30am and 12:30pm to 4pm, or until they run out of their allotted 500 test kits each day. No appointment or prescription are necessary. The tests are free to the public, and there are no age restrictions.Need more information? Call 941-748-4501 or visit www.mymanatee.org. ...

Halloween is almost here! However, the most frightening scare remains COVID-19. You might not be able to bring your kids trick-or-treating in a traditional manner, but there are still social distancing festivities to help you celebrate! Here are five to check out.  1. Halloween on S. Lime AveThis free holiday drive-thru will feature projection mapping, animatronics, sound and special effects, a ghoul’s garden with light-up skull flowers, and more. Thursday through Saturday, 7-10pm. 133 S. Lime Ave., Sarasota.  2. Big Cat Habitat’s Wild-O-WeenCheck out this celebration for a costume contest, mummy wrapping contest, a live animal demonstration, and pony rides. Kids can also participate in pumpkin bowling and painting! Saturday from 12-4pm. Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, 7101 Palmer Blvd. 3. Fright Night on St. ArmandsOne of the area’s most beloved Halloween traditions is back! Spooky characters will haunt the streets of St. Armands Circle, and many retailers will offer trick-or-treating for children and Halloween promotions for adults. Saturday from 6-8:30pm....

On Saturday, six people were rescued by the Coast Guard near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. According to the Coast Guard, distress calls were received, warning that a boat was “about to capsize”. Two 45-foot Response Boats were sent to assist. One was dispatched from St. Petersburg and the other from Bradenton.  When the Coast Guard arrived, they found two people in the water wearing life jackets and four people on the sinking boat. All were rescued and taken back to Bradenton. A Sea Tow vessel recovered the boat and towed it to a local marina. Wearing a life jacket is the single most important step a person can take to increase their chances of survival in a life-threatening situation on the water. When operating a boat, you should have enough life jackets for everyone onboard. Otherwise, the consequences can be deadly.  ...

Florida beaches are absolutely gorgeous, and if you’re visiting from out of town, it’s only to be expected that you’ll want to dive into the ocean and swim. Before you run down to the shoreline, read through these quick safety tips. 1. Know what beach flags mean.Do you know what these flag colors mean? Before you hit the beach, memorize them. Double Red: Danger/Water ClosedSingle Red: High Hazard/Strong CurrentYellow: Medium Hazard/Moderate CurrentGreen: Low Hazard/Calm ConditionsPurple: Dangerous Marine Life 2. When you walk in the water, shuffle your feet.Did you know that stingrays bury themselves in the sand, often in shallow water? They only sting in self defense, so shuffling your feet will give them time to swim away. 3. Know how to escape a rip current.Rip currents often form near sandbars and piers, and they can be terrifying. If you get caught in one, here’s what you should do. Keep calm. Don’t tire yourself out by fighting the rip current.Swim sideways, parallel to the beach. When...

Looking for something festive to do on your boat in Palmetto Bay, FL this year? Decorate a pumpkin! Patch wants to showcase your creativity this fall with a gallery of pumpkin photos from Palmetto Bay. They can be carved, painted, or part of a decorative display! Anything goes, but make sure it's family-friendly! Send your best shots to tiffany.razzano@patch.com so they can be published in an upcoming gallery. Submissions should be followed by a sentence authorizing Patch to use your photo in a post this month. Here's an easy template to use: "Patch has permission to publish my photo. Please credit the image to [Photographer's Name]." Don't let the pandemic steal your holiday cheer! Get creative, and embrace the holidays. If you're feeling extra spooky, decorate your boat with spiderwebs, stuffed spiders, and orange twinkle lights! Your options are endless! ...

Located just two hours from Palmetto, Oviedo was recently ranked 43rd in Money Magazine’s 50 Best Places to Live in the United States! The annual list ranks cities based on safety, cost of living, the housing market, employment, weather, diversity, and more. Since we’re currently in a pandemic, Money Magazine added a few additional factors to this year’s ranking system, such as countywide unemployment and housing distress from COVID-19. Oviedo is located about 20 miles from Orlando and is well known for its wild chickens. Oviedo’s population is ~37,000. The unemployment rate is 10.3%, and the median household income is $93,000. The median home price is $296,000. So, where is the best place to live in the United States? According to Money Magazine’s list, it’s Evans, Georgia. Here are some other cities that made the list: Parker, Colorado; Rockwall, Texas; Columbia, Maryland; Franklin, Tennessee; and Morrisville, North Carolina. ...

Summer is finally over...and for some areas, that means cooler weather and changing leaves. But here in Palmetto, the forecast still feels like summer! Fortunately, it never gets too cold here in Florida. And because of that, it’s entirely possible to continue boating during the fall season.  If you don’t use your boat during the winter months, you should plan to winterize it and do your final yearly maintenance soon. However, you still have a month or two to enjoy the Florida weather on the water. And there are definite perks to doing so! Whether you enjoy fishing, cruising around town, or nature watching, there’s something for everyone this time of year. If you’re an avid fisherman, you know there are plenty of opportunities to catch fish both near the shoreline and offshore. If you like to cruise around, you’ll find that boat ramps and fuel dock lines are significantly less crowded. You’ll also notice the water is much less congested after...