LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
Feathered focus
PAGE 13
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 40, NO. 47
FREE
YOUR TOWN
•
THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018
Call for cell service Longboat leaders hope proposals lead to better connections. PAGE 3
Courtesy photo
Susan McGuire with Rahul Wadhwa from the Rotary Club of Agra Tajmahal.
Rotarians travel to Canada
ONE FINE MESH r account has Longboat Key’s Twitte four months. been active for about
During the last week of June, several Rotary Club of Longboat Key members attended the Rotary International Convention in Toronto. Incoming President Susan McGuire spent time during the convention working to build interest in a “Just One Smile” campaign, which will fund surgeries for children born with cleft palates and lips in developing countries. Throughout the week, the Rotarians heard from several speakers, including former first lady Laura Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Town goes social Town bulks up presence on Twitter, Facebook to diversify its communication. SEE PAGE 6
Photo courtesy Rebecca Goldthwaite
Turtle time On June 30, beachgoer Rebecca Goldthwaite witnessed a loggerhead sea turtle laying a nest in front of Beachplace Association while a rainbow shone overhead. Mote volunteers were on hand to make sure bystanders kept a safe distance so the turtle wouldn’t be stressed. Mote volunteers told Goldthwaite and others the turtle was a young loggerhead returning to where she herself was born to lay her nest, which is common.
Young campers learn firsthand what they can find in the sea. SEE PAGE 20
Katie Johns
Dylan Phillippi checks her net for marine life during Aqua Kids camp in Sarasota Bay.
Turtle Tracks JUNE 24-30: Nests False Crawls
Out with the old ...
2018 2017 93 157 81 255
YEAR TO DATE: 2018 2017 Nests 630 771 False Crawls 614 798 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory Data for Longboat Key Katie Johns
Buccaneer site takes shape as Pattigeorge’s shell falls. SEE PAGE 11
A+E Local laughs. INSIDE