LONGBOAT
SEASON SUMMER
Observer
2020
IDE R V E R ’S G U THE OBSE ENT R E N J OY M TO S U M M E
Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
INSIDE
GET OUT! y Four ways to enjo summer — right . in your backyard 24 E PAG
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 42, NO. 43
FREE
YOUR TOWN
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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020
TALE OF THE TAPE OPEN
Courtesy photo
New grad gets two new hats Why should the big kids have all the graduation fun? Ethan Smithwick, who lives in Memphis but has been spending some time in Longboat Key with his family, was graduating from kindergarten recently without his friends back home in Tennessee. So he made some new ones when Longboat Key Fire Rescue stopped by to make his big day that much more special. In addition to some little gifts, Ethan also now has a choice: to wear the graduation mortarboard or the cool fire helmet he received from the ladder truck crew.
Masked mascot pays a visit Longboat Key’s favorite furry friend returned to Town Hall for a socially distant visit last week. Hunter, the licensed therapy dog of Deputy Fire Chief Sandi Drake, donned his mask and visited the town’s employees. Hunter was more interested in treats than keeping his mask on, Drake said. “He was a trooper, and everyone loved seeing him, and he loved seeing all of them,” Drake said.
Turtle Tracks LONGBOAT May 24-30 2020 2019 Nests 91 113 False Crawls 76 161 Total as of April 19 2020 2019 Nests 251 272 False Crawls 220 291 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Photos by Eric Garwood
CLOSED
Public Works employees remove barriers to beach parking Monday at Bayfront Park (above), while courts at the park remain closed.
Town removes barricades to beach parking, but park’s courts are still off limits. SEE PAGE 2
What is too tall?
Parking rules get a makeover Commissioners OK a new formula for restaurants. SEE PAGE 5
File photo
Existing restaurants, such as Shore, will be exempt from the new regulations unless they add capacity or floor space.
Talk of height strikes again in lightning rod discussions. SEE PAGE 3