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bserver LONGBOAT
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
free • THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013
AMERICA’S
ANNIVERSARY
DIVERSIONS Ten-year-old Hannah Swain’s wish comes true. INSIDE
LONGBOAT
YOUr NeIGHBOr HOOD.
free • THUrSDAY,
Town maps bay accesses for residents. PAGE 5A
OUR TOWN
gaining speed
DIVerSIONS
kurt Schultheis
+ Liam Schulthei reports to Town s Hall
There’s a new face on the Longboat key Commission dais: Town Schultheis took Liam a festivities at the break from Fourth of July Freedom Fest to pose for a picture in the chair occupied by Mayor typically Jim Brown. It’s not surprising that Liam would gravitate toward a seat at the dais. After all, Longboat Observer his dad, Managing Editor Kurt Schultheis, spends a lot of time at Town We’ll have to wait Hall. a few decades to see if Longboat key will get a Mayor Liam Schultheis.
La Playa Resort celebrates four decades. PAGE 15A
by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor
restrictions wil l rock the
/ PAGe 2A
New Colony info frustrates commissioners
Information the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort’s selected developer JHM Financial Group, submitted , the town irked commissioners to and gave them more cause for concern.
Robin Hartill
+ Brey investigat retirement scene es
See OUr TOWN
/ PAGe 14A
TURTLE TRACkS
Week of July 7
through
Nests ...................... July 13 ...........72 False crawls ...................... .66 2013 466 344
2012 515 380
boat
to the street. Language will “You can have differentiate also between those ing space when my trailer park- this week who have waterfront access and those dead hands fromyou pry my cold and other(see page 9A). Moore who don’t. The ordinance, my engine tiller Longbeach handle.” which the subVillage committee residents are The subcommitte opposing a e also Longbeach new Monday received in draft form boats and Village resident ordinance, which a subcommittrailers parked wants and will recommend Paul Moore wrote in side the Planning to yards to be screened those words as tee recommended, that and Zoning part of a letter so they are would force property Board not as visible from to the editor owners Key-wide in September, will also submitted to the state that Subcommitte the road. residents with Longboat Observer to keep boats and trailers e member corner lots can’t Longbeach out of park their front yards. and their boats Village Associaside yards that and trailers on also have access See PArKING
But, that’s Ok, because Liam has more important items on his agenda — such as turning 4 next month and celebrating baby brother Kyle’s first birthday this week.
Police-service technician richard Brey has investigated many crime scenes, but now he’s checking scene: retirement. out a new Brey retired July 12, after 14 years with the Longboat key Police Department. His law-enforceme nt career spanned approximately 36 years.
JULY 18, 2013
ANNIVerSArY
Beat the heat with these cool summer treats. INSIDE
The Planning and ordinance that Zoning Board will consider Longbeach Village a revised residents oppose .
Liam Schultheis
Nests False crawls
OUR TOWN
bserver
YOU. YOUr NeIGHBOr S.
NeWS
The Longboat Observer reflects on its first 35 years in print. PAGES 14A-16A
guilty verdict
#1
ER PAP WS NE
DOUBLe THe fUN Twins Doug and mock during a Veda Spoto, 4, enjoy a swing day at the beach. Robin Hartill at La page 15A. For the story on Playa Resort’s signature hamLa Playa’s 40th anniversary, see
The Longboat Key Town Commission seeking to review has been financial information Stamford, Conn.,-based JHM Financial from LLC since May Group 20. The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort board selected Association’s the clusive developer company to be the resort’s exlist of Colony-affecand to seek settlements from a On July 12, the ted parties. town received from JHM — some information but it wasn’t what commissione wanted. rs Commissioner Terry Gans requested pany provide the comfinancial information special meeting. at a May 20 Almost two months later, July 11, JHM John McClutchy President Jr. presented Dave Bullock to Town Manager a press kit, a rendering for a transit-orient ed development and site plan rage) project (a parking gathrough the Stamford Transportation Center. Once it’s built, the up with commercial project will follow office space, 150-room hotel retail space, and a JHM is also one 150 residential units. of four principal a managing entities and partner for the Bowles Park and redevelopme nt of Westbrook Village in Connecticut
See COLONY
NEWS
Town prepares for beach plan assessment. PAGE 3A
/ PAGe 2A
INDEX Briefs.................. .4A Classifieds ....... 26A
Crossword ......... 25A Letters .................9 A
Neighborhood ... 15A Opinion................8 A
Real Estate ....... 22A Weather ............ 25A
Vol. 35, No. 50 | Two sections YourObserver.com
by Robin Hartill | City Editor
Former Sand Cay manager convicted of theft and fraud Judy Paul cashed or deposited more than 50 unauthorized Sand Cay checks between 2006 and 2009, funneling funds into personal accounts.
Courtesy photo
Charlie and Dottie Korbuly
+ Charlie and Dottie Korbuly celebrate golden anniversary
A jury spent less than two hours deliberating July 18 before convicting former Sand Cay Manager Judy Paul of grand theft of more than $100,000 and of scheming to defraud in the amount of $50,000 or more. Paul, 49, was taken into custody
after the verdict and remains in the Manatee County Jail awaiting sentencing. Paul was fired from Sand Cay in 2010, after an audit revealed inconsistencies. According to a probable cause affidavit, Paul was hired in June
2006 by Sand Cay with a salary of more than $70,000 and stole more than $216,000 in business checks between July 2006 and September 2009. The report states that Paul’s
SEE PAUL / PAGE 2A
Emerald Harbor residents Charlie and Dottie Korbuly recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary — aka the “golden” anniversary — by renewing their vows at Longboat Island Chapel, followed by a champagne reception and dinner catered by Harry’s Continental Kitchens. It’s the same way the couple celebrated their silver anniversary 25 years earlier. The Korbulys met when they were students at Purdue University, married at Sacred Heart Basilica at Notre Dame University and spent their careers in California. Now, they’re already planning for an emerald celebration in five years and a diamond celebration in 10 years. And, given their love of tradition, they’re pretty sure it will involve the chapel and Harry’s.
Kurt Schultheis
Sand Cay board members filed a police report in 2010 after discovering their former manager stole more than $216,000 in business checks.
THRILL OF THE CATCH
Yaryna Klimchak
Longboat Key resident Bill Johnson holds a 40-year-old snail for Chrissy Lopez to touch. Chrissy found the snail in the bay during a Girls Inc. field trip July 18 to Mote Marine Laboratory. Girls in sixth to eighth grade learned about the small critters that live in Sarasota Bay. The girls caught the sea creatures in a net and observed them before returning them to their home. To see more photos, see page 18A. File photo
+ Turtle Watch will open nest on Friday If you still don’t have Friday night plans, consider a date with the Longboat Key Turtle Watch. The group will open a nest that recently hatched at 8 p.m. Friday, July 26, at Sun ‘n’ Sea condominium, 4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Parking is available at the south end of the Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort. Walk south on the beach toward the nest. The nest opening will take place rain or shine and will be canceled only in the event of lightning.
ANOTHER ROUND
by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor
Town, county crack open Beer Can dispute Both the town of Longboat Key and Manatee County officials disagree about who should be responsible for Beer Can Island. A petition for an administrative review of permits for three sand structures near the north end of Longboat Key has also ignited a longstanding debate about who is responsible for the swath of sand known as Beer Can Island.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued a notice of intent to permit the construction of three northend groins, one of which would be located on Beer Can Island. But former Manatee County
Commissioner Joe McClash sent a notice that he has petitioned the state’s Office of General Counsel of the Department of Environmental Protection for a review of the permit. Key resident Gene Jaleski also filed a petition
dated July 5. The petitions have prompted the town attorney to engage special environmental legal counsel to defend the petition as the state evaluates the petitions. The petitions describe McClash and Jaleski as persons “whose
SEE BEER CAN / PAGE 2A
INDEX Briefs....................4A Business............ 22A
Classifieds ........ 25A Crossword.......... 24A
Obituaries.......... 12A Opinion.................8A
Real Estate........ 20A Weather............. 24A
Vol. 35, No. 51 | Two sections YourObserver.com