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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEWS
DIVERSIONS
CELEBRATION
Save Our Seabirds receives clean inspection. PAGE 3A
OUR TOWN
free • THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2013
The island was awash in red, white and blue for the Fourth of July. PAGES 13A-17A
retirement options
Classic modern style complements a Lido Shores home. INSIDE
by Robin Hartill | Community Editor
Employees seek DROP benefit The Longboat Key Town Commission’s decision Aug. 14 will affect the financial futures of town employees and taxpayers.
+ Patriotic painting to hang at Town Hall
$750 a month. That’s the amount emergency-services specialist Maureen Monahan told the Longboat Key Town Commission she expects to lose in monthly benefits if the general employees pension plan
is frozen without an option for early retirement, or entering the Deferred Retirement Options Program (DROP). $743 a month. That’s the monthly mortgage payment of the 25-year town
employee’s home that she was finally able to purchase two years ago. “This house I worked so hard for, this house I love, this house I can no longer afford to keep. Your plan is not fair, Mr. Bull-
ock,” said Monahan, who was one of three general employees to address the commission July 1. $875,000 over 25 years, or $35,000 per year. That’s the estimated bill for Longboat Key taxpayers if the commission allows general em-
SEE PENSION / PAGE 2A
Apparently, there were some patriotic young Picassos in the crowd at Freedom Fest. After the parade on Fourth of July, children enjoyed games and activities, including painting, in Bicentennial Park. Part of the masterpiece painting they created will soon be on display at Longboat Key Town Hall as part of the ongoing art exhibit in Town Commission chambers.
+ Send in your fun summer snapshots Going on vacation? Snapping pictures of the sunset? Don’t forget about the Longboat Observer and YourObserver.com. Submit photos or 60-second videos of you on your travels holding your Longboat Observer for our “It’s Read Everywhere” photo contest.” Enter for a chance to win two roundtrip travel certificates from JetBlue. SRQ Airport is the contest sponsor. If you capture a stunning sunset on your camera, submit it! Winners receive the honor of having their photo shine on the weather page of the Longboat Observer. To submit entries, visit YourObserver.com and click on the “Contests” tab.
Turtle tracks Week of June 30 through July 6
Nests..................................96 False crawls........................77 2013 2012 Nests 394 457 False crawls 278 321
INDEPENDENCE SPIRIT Yaryna Klimchak
Finn Fluker, 4, rides in a wagon in the annual Longboat Key Freedom Fest parade July 4, at Bicentennial Park. The singing of the national anthem, a butterfly release and children’s games followed the parade. To see more photos, see pages 13A and 17A.
HONORABLE CHARACTER
by Nick Friedman | Staff Writer
De Furia shows respect on and off the bench The Hon. Rick De Furia reflects on a long and varied career as he prepares for retirement, effective Aug. 1. Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judge Rick De Furia looks different today. Although several weeks still remain before he officially retires, he looks the part as he walks about the Sarasota County Courthouse. He doesn’t have court this afternoon, and he’s forgone his typical robe-and-tie wardrobe in favor of a
more casual look. He’s more aptly dressed for one of his daily strolls or bike rides on Longboat Key, where he lives, and he is wearing light blue Converse Chuck Taylors, navy shorts and a light-blue, short-sleeved
SEE DE FURIA / PAGE 6A
Nick Friedman
Judge Rick De Furia’s 11-year career as 12th Judicial Circuit judge was marked by respect and empathy for litigants.
INDEX Briefs....................4A Calendar............ 10A
Classifieds ........ 22A Crossword.......... 21A
Neighborhood.... 13A Opinion.................8A
Real Estate........ 18A Weather............. 21A
Vol. 35, No. 49 | Two sections YourObserver.com