Firmenich Demonstration To Take Place This Evening

The demonstration to draw attention to the Firmenich property proposal is scheduled for Friday evening at around 5 p.m., according to the unofficial organizers of the event, Barbara Hugg and Sheryl Hollen.

One week after the pair erected a sign in front of their 14th Street South home and a few days after Patch did a story on the reason behind the protest, Hugg says the demonstration has picked up momentum.

She said since the Patch piece ran on Wednesday, local NBC television news outlet News Channel 8 picked up the story, interviewing neighbors and filming around the Firmenich property, which is located right around the corner from the Hugg and Holland home.

"This project will affect much more of Safety Harbor than just the neighborhoods surrounding State Road 590," Hugg said.

"Eventually there will be a domino affect causing congestion on many of our side roads when drivers start looking for alternate routes that just might include your street."

Hugg said anyone who wishes to join them and show support of their movement is welcome.

The pair are encouraging people to wear red in reference to the stopped cars that they believe will clog the road should the proposal pass, and they will be waving signs and hands at passing motorists to alert them to their cause.

"We can only hope what we are doing will make a difference," she said.

Want to read more about development and other local issues? Sign up for the free Safety Harbor Patch email newsletter and you won't miss a thing!