Observer
LONGBOAT
JULY 2020
SPIRIT OF
AMERICA
Observer
INSIDE
Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 42, NO. 47
FREE
YOUR TOWN
W H AT
•
M AT T E R S
M O S T
THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020
CLOSED AGAIN As weekend crowds build, town shuts off beach parking. PAGE 3
Eric Garwood
Need a mask? Have one Feel like you should wear a mask while out and about, but left yours at home? Longboat Key’s Fire Rescue Department has you covered. Literally. The department has set up a self-service basket outside Station 91 at 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive for anyone to pick up a mask. Spokeswoman Tina Adams said the department will monitor the basket and refill when needed. Additional locations might be added in the future, she said.
Courtesy photo
Bringing home baby Baby sea turtles are starting to make their way out of their nests and into the water. Loggerhead eggs take anywhere from 42 to 75 days to hatch, and turtle season started just more than two months ago, which means the little guys are on schedule. Most often, the teeny turtles head west toward the water, but if the moon is especially bright or if there are lights onshore, they might get turned around.
Turtle Tracks LONGBOAT June 21-27 2020 Nests 119 False Crawls 242
2019 155 271
Total as of April 19 2020 2019 Nests 736 905 False Crawls 862 1,095 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Eric Garwood
The beach parking closure took effect Tuesday morning, with barricades and Do Not Cross tape.
Sewage line fails across the bay Residents urged to use less water because repairs could take days. SEE PAGE 10
A+E
Mark Bergin
Tim and King Grant at the Bayfront Park courts.
Dad, a King and their court Coach enjoys teaching basketball. SEE PAGE 18
Smaller, but still funny. SEE PAGE 28