SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES

Protesters lined the streets of downtown Punta Gorda and all around Laishley Park and Marina Friday evening to protest the proposed Calusa Green regional landfill in eastern Charlotte County. Here, Fred Hill, chairman of the Southwest Florida Rural Landowners Association (reportedly established to thwart the landfill and any other projects that threaten “rural heritage”), and Baron Bogle stand outside Laishley Crab House — one of the businesses owned by landfill partner Bruce Laishley — Friday holding their protest signs. Laishley is one of several partners working to win approval to locate the landfill some 9 miles east of State Road 31, off County Road 74.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES

Groups of protesters like these answered the call Friday evening, with more planning to continue Saturday afternoon, to protest the Calusa Green landfill project, proposed for rural land east of Punta Gorda.

SUN PHOTO BY BRENDA BARBOSA

If this sign at Laishley Marine Friday was any indication, the "protestee" seemed to be taking things in stride.