LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
Special day for moms.
PAGE 14
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 42, NO. 39
FREE
YOUR TOWN
•
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020
IT’S A DEAL Agreement on 75 Colony units propels Unicorp plans. PAGE 3
ONLY CHILD
Courtesy photo
Aria and Andrew Mateos made signs for the parade.
Birthday parade
Not everyone gets a parade for their birthday, but thanks to Grandpa Carlos Mateos, two young Longboaters celebrated with their own personal processional. Andrew, 4, and Aria, 6, celebrated their special day on May 1 alongside Longboat Key’s first responders as a line of town vehicles including police cars, fire trucks and public works vehicles crept down their street. The crews enjoy it just as much as the kids, department leaders say.
Town’s first baby swan in two years hatches. PAGE 9
Getting those ZZZ’s A study by Sleepopolis, a sleep-related website, found that residents of Longboat Key are in the top 20 (of 100 Florida towns and cities) for best sleeping conditions. The town ranked 19th in the state overall. Among the data points: smoking rate, air pollution levels, unemployment and activity. And because we know you simply must know, the town of Pinecrest between Miami and Homestead racked up the highest score. And, if you know anyone in Belleview, near Ocala, don’t worry about waking them with an early phone call, if you know what we’re saying.
Turtle Tracks LONGBOAT April 26 2020 2019 Nests 8 5 False Crawls 10 1 Total as of April 19 2020 2019 Nests 9 6 False Crawls 13 1 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Photo courtesy Lou Newman
Greta tends to her newly hatched cygnet on the Longboat Key Club’s Harbourside golf course. Four other eggs did not hatch.
Leaders hear talk on taxes COVID-19’s effects likely will take a budget bite, but how much isn’t perfectly clear. SEE PAGE 4
File photo
Tennis center opens Friday List of restrictions includes singles matches only. SEE PAGE 6