LONGBOAT
SEASON SUMMER
Observer
2018
RV E R THE OBSE
TY AND SOCIE T H E A R TS ’S G U I D E TO
Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
INSIDE
MUSIC DANCE ART THEATER BLACK TIE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 40, NO. 43
FREE
Greer takes hit from 1st storm Bret Hauff
First responders lose their path to the beach; residents worry about waves. PAGE 3A
•
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2018
YOUR TOWN
Photo courtesy Jan Pearce
Mote assistant Vice President Evan Barniskis, Sarasota League of Women Voters President Carol Hartz, left, and Sarasota Vice Mayor Jennifer Ahearn-Koch
Positive energy
PLENTY TO SEA
On May 23, Mote Marine Laboratory hosted the kick off to the second solar cooperative in the Sarasota area. The first solar co-op, which opened last year in Sarasota County, has 60 homeowner members whose solar panels have generated 651 kilowatts of electricity. Mote itself has a solar array on the roof of its mammal building, Jan Pearce of the League of Women Voters in Sarasota County, one of the sponsors for the co-op initiative, wrote in an email. The co-ops exist to help groups of homeowners interested in purchasing solar panels to leverage their bulk purchasing power while learning about the benefits of distributed solar energy, a statement from Mote said.
Sip and Save Kayleigh Omang
Linh, Eloise, Alex and Gwenyth Chau visited Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium on June 2 in honor of World Oceans Day.
Mote’s World Oceans Day observance attracts families to laugh and learn. SEE PAGE 18A
A+E Three weeks of music. INSIDE
Park is just right State plans Bayfront Park sea wall test. SEE PAGE 6A
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill is doing its part to help the environment. On June 4, the restaurant announced in a Facebook post it has removed plastic straws from its service. The restaurant will offer biodegradable straws on request. In the Facebook post, the restaurant shared a photo of a table with a small sign reading, “Skip the straw. Make a difference.” Skip the Straw is a movement raising awareness of the alternatives to plastic straws.
Turtle Tracks MAY 27 TO JUNE 2: 2018 2017 Nests 95 108 False Crawls 74 96 YEAR TO DATE: 2018 2017 Nests 189 162 False Crawls 148 220 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory Data for Longboat Key File photo