LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
Bird Key celebrates.
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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 41, NO. 21
FREE
YOUR TOWN
•
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019
WHAT’S AHEAD IN ’19?
Courtesy photo
Martin Poretsky, Henriette van Eck and Ellen Greenberger
Rotary rookies The Rotary Club of Longboat Key grew by three Dec. 11. At the club’s meeting, three new members were inducted into the community service group. Martin Poretsky, Henriette van Eck and Ellen Greenberger were welcomed into the Rotary family. The Rotary Club meets at 5:15 p.m. Tuesdays at All Angels By the Sea Church, 563 Bay Isles Road.
Turtle-ly awesome donation On Dec. 7, Longboat Key Turtle Watch donated $9,670 to Mote Marine Laboratory’s sea turtle and education programs, to which it has donated for the past nine years, according to a statement from Mote. This year’s donation included a little more than $2,000 in the name of longtime volunteer Freda Perrotta for Mote to purchase supplies such as GPS units, $2,000 for students from Title-1 schools to have access to Mote education programs and more. The Turtle Watch also rolled out its 2019 shirts. New this year are gray cotton shirts, which can be purchased at the UPS Store in the Centre Shops, 5380 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Quick-dry shirts in multiple colors are available at RIP Current Store in Whitney Beach Plaza at 6850 GMD.
Town’s new fire marshal is among After years of discussion and planning, town prepares the year’s people to watch. PAGE 2A to launch underground utility work. PAGE 3A
January is a critical month in a critical year for Unicorp. PAGE 5A
Answers on the way to zoning questions. PAGE 6A
Mark your calendars File photo
Ricki and Ralph Harvey and Beth Stewart at the 2018 Bacchus on the Beach.
Don’t make a social move without our guide to events. PAGE 1B
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Plan ahead for 2019. INSIDE