LONGBOAT
SEASON WINTER 2020
Observer
Y R TS A N D S O C I E T G U I D E TO T H E A T H E O B S E R V E R ’S
Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
INSIDE MUSIC DANCE ART THEATER BLACK TIE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 42, NO. 21
FREE
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LOOKING AHEAD
Concrete future
Pickleball players look forward to new courts in the new year. PAGE 3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020
YOUR TOWN
File photo
Man donates $580 in $20s A man gave $580 worth of $20 bills to the Salvation Army’s red kettle drive in front of Publix on Bay Isles Parkway earlier this month. The man walked up to Gene Luca, who was volunteering at the time, and handed him a wad of cash. He said, “Merry Christmas,” according to Luca, and walked away before Luca could acknowledge him or count the money. Because all $20 bills in the Sarasota area are matched by a silent donor, the anonymous man’s gift will provide $1,160 for the Salvation Army.
Eric Garwood
Dan Conway delivers a return during a match recently at Bayfront Park.
What’s still coming in 2030? Skipping over the new decade, we ask for bigger visions. PAGES 4-6 A+E
A+E calendar stretches 2020 options. INSIDE
Beach plans roll on Neighbors to the north consider how they can help. SEE PAGE 2 Eric Garwood
Manatee County was asked to help pay for part of beach fixes.
File photo
Sue Smith
Fantastic financiers For the Longboat Key Finance Department, the figures keep adding up. Just as they’re supposed to in that line of work. The department’s painstaking methods recently netted its 38th straight Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The department also had no “reportable conditions” when it was audited for the 2018 fiscal year, which means it’s doing everything right as it goes above and beyond with the annual report. Such a record is hard to compile, Town Manager Tom Harmer said.