LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
A creative outlet steps from home. PAGE 2B
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 41, NO. 31
FREE
High-stakes shell game
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THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019
YOUR TOWN
Recent court cases show implications of turtle regulations. PAGE 3A Courtesy photo
Lunch bunch
Josh Moss
Filling the boot The boots of Longboat Key firefighters were used for a bigger purpose this week. From Monday to Wednesday, firefighters were posted outside of Publix asking customers to make donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Giving Muscular Dystrophy the Boot” campaign. Longboat Key Fire Rescue participates every year in the campaign, usually by joining forces on the mainland, but this year it brought the campaign to the island because of the foot traffic Publix gets around this time of year.
Eating out is what these ‘Retired Old Men’ really like to do. PAGE 1B
Eric Garwood Katie Johns
Once a week, the ROMEOs — which stands for Retired Old Men Eating Out — pick a place to eat. The ROMEOs have established a set of rules, including no complaining and no drinking until everyone has a glass in front of them.
BLACK
TIE
Town says yes to two questions
Cause 4 Hope INSIDE
File photo
Voters approved a question allowing residential density on a vacant lot at 5630 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Voters support longer terms, plan for vacant lot on GMD. PAGE 2A
At least one osprey seems to be home in the nest at all times.
No empty nesters here Next time you’re stuck in traffic on the south end of the island, don’t grumble. Instead, take a peek up at the Longboat Club Road street sign above the intersection at Gulf of Mexico Drive. Nestled between the two faces of the green sign, an osprey nest is occupied by at least two adults, one of which always seems to be home. Mating pairs frequently return to a previously used nest, upgrading and repairing from year to year. This season, however, the persistent osprey known to nest on the New Pass drawbridge signal does not appear to have returned.