LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
A home for art.
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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 41, NO. 35
FREE
YOUR TOWN
Courtesy photo
Happy retirement, Steve! After 15 years as the association manager at Club Longboat Beach and Tennis, Steve Bierman is officially off duty. On Sunday, April 7, more than 90 people gathered for dinner and cake to send Bierman, and his wife, Kay, off. Jerry Digani, a Club Longboat resident, said in an email that the Biermans will be missed.
THE
SEARCH
FOR RED TIDE
SOLUTIONS 2018’s outbreak spurred scientists and policymakers into action. PAGE 17-20A
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Rotary against red tide In February, local chapters of the Rotary Club, including Longboat Key, Sarasota Sunrise and Sarasota Bay, hosted “Rotary Fights Red Tide” at Mote Marine Laboratory to raise money for research. On April 4, the clubs presented $25,000 to The Science and Environment Council for the red tide impact study. The donation will be used to conduct a study of community impacts from the 2018 red tide bloom.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019
Arts Center: Leaders keep trying Commissioners vote to redo memorandum of understanding with Ringling over revised Art Center proposal. ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR
C
ommissioners later this month likely will again look at a revised document intended to form the basic framework of a relationship between the town and Ringling College of Art and Design over Longboat Key’s pursuit of its proposed Arts, Culture and Education Center. The memorandum of understanding, which commissioners voted 4-3 on Monday to send back for more work, would act as a document “that memorialized the collaborative relationship and approach the town and Ringling would take to create, establish and maintain the center on Longboat Key.” SEE PAGE 3A
BLACK
Plans come together for restaurant
Can you stop summer hunger? Here are the week’s donation totals for All Faiths Food Bank’s Campaign Against Summer Hunger, which runs through May 15. To donate, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. Goal: $1.4 million matching challenge Amount raised to date: $783,982
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Eric Garwood
The canopy over the pumps of the former gas station at Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway Street was demolished in March.
Casual spot proposed for years-vacant site on north end. SEE PAGE 6A
TIE
Fairytale Ball puts Children First. INSIDE