LONGBOAT
Observer COLONY VOTE NEAR Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
Medical center closing.
PAGE 6A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 40, NO. 28
FREE
•
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
YOUR TOWN
Town Hall packed for first day of P&Z presentations, comments. PAGE 3A
ROOM TO ROAM
Katie Johns
Taylor Rahn poses with his award and Steven and Simeon Brubacher, two of the five people he rescued.
Longboat Key police give out award to hero On Jan. 7, Taylor Rahn rescued five people from their capsized canoe. On Feb. 20, the Longboat Key Police Department awarded Rahn a citizencommendation citation. Two of the victims, Steven and Simeon Brubacher, were there when Rahn got his award. Keegan, Landon and Darren Martin were the others in the water. Police Chief Pete Cumming read from the citation, saying that because of Rahn, all five were saved from life-threatening peril and each made a full recovery.
Garden Club’s home parade finds five gems from one end of the island to the other. SEE PAGE 12B
Courtesy photo
Casa Del Mar has one of the new posters at its beach access.
Photos by Katie Johns
Turtle Watch signs make moves Even though turtle season is months away, the Longboat Key Turtle Watch is preparing. Students from Ringling College of Art and Design teamed up with the town of Longboat Key to create new signs to raise awareness of turtle season. Turtle Watch Vice President Cyndi Seamon and others are working with groups to post these signs. One side of the sign urges residents to “flip the switch” and make sure no bright lights are shining on the beach during nesting season. The other side urges visitors to “make a move” and be aware during nesting season.
A year in the making Bret Hauff
Brandon Desch, firefighter paramedic
Longboat’s new customized ambulance gets to work. SEE PAGE 4A
BLACK
TIE SPARCCle on the runway. INSIDE