Rappel stunt to benefit United Way of Manatee County

Rappel to benefit United Way

PALMETTO -- Jeweler and businessman Tom Seguin will rappel 160 feet off the top of Bel Mare Condominiums, the tallest building in Manatee County, at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at 120 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto

The stunt is meant to spotlight the Climbing For Dollars event Sept. 18-19 in Boulder, Colo., where United Way climbers will scale approximately 1,000 feet on the first Flatiron.

Community leaders are working to acquire donations to benefit the United Way of Manatee County. Climbers include Tom and Donna Seguin, Valerie Bliss, Jared Baker and Nathan Baker.

Manatee to spend $5,000 to reduce tobacco litter

MANATEE -- The Manatee County Property Management Department has received a $2,500 grant from the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, and the county is matching the funding to cleanup parks and public areas, including sidewalk, street sweeping, and storm drain cleaning.

Receptacles will be installed where cigarettes are frequently put out such as bus stops and train stations.

Environmentally, synthetic filters in many cigarettes and cigar tips do not decompose well and clog storm drains and bodies of water.

Roughly 32 percent of litter in storm drains originated from a tobacco product, according to the county press release.

The CLPP program will reduce cigarette butt litter by 50 percent in the first six months, according to the release.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Rappel stunt to benefit United Way of Manatee County ."