LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 41, NO. 43
FREE
Governing BE PREPARED in the sunshine When getting ready for storms, don’t forget dinner (seriously). PAGE 3A
Commissioners and public tour town’s green-space site. PAGE 4A
PAGE 1B •
THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019
YOUR TOWN
File photo
Camile Gehan marched as Lady Liberty in 2018.
Freedom Fest? No charge again It’s billed as the shortest parade around. And town leaders this week once again waived the $100 Public Forum Permit for Freedom Fest on July Fourth and approved the closure of Bay Isles Road for the 17th annual event. The annual event attracts visitors, residents, decorated cars, dogs in patriotic costumes and plenty of red, white and blue. While they were at it, commissioners also waived the fee for Christ Church of Longboat Key to perform a sunrise service on the public beach access at Gulfside Road from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Saturday, June 22.
Eric Garwood
Time off for summer
“My vision and hope is that we could do something quickly, so that come next season, there’s something here that we didn’t have before. — Isaac Brownman, Public Works Director
Eric Garwood
A+E
Artist is never alone
Chef Chris Reed of the Lazy Lobster and his Spam sliders were a big hit at the recent Disaster Preparedness Seminar, sponsored by the town and Longboat Key Chamber.
Art of Performance INSIDE
Nature’s way to clean Eric Garwood
David Wolff prepares to submerge 10 Mini Reefs.
Mini Reef project holds promise to clarify, invigorate Sarasota Bay. PAGE 6A
The Town Commission this week OK’d its traditional summer break. The unpaid, seven-member commission approved cancellation of a June 24 special meeting, a July 15 regular workshop and all meetings in August. Commissioners will likely set a target millage rate in early July, as part of budget considerations, then hold a pair of public hearings on the spending plan when they return in September.
Turtle Tracks LONGBOAT May 26-June 1 2019 2018 Nests 113 161 False Crawls 96 74 Total as of June 1 2019 2018 Nests 272 190 False Crawls 291 148 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory