LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
History for sale.
PAGE 10
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 43, NO. 3
FREE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020
Parking remains closed
YOUR TOWN
Courtesy photo
Tracy Fanara
Researcher takes on NOAA role
Town’s COVID-19 rules still in force as leaders watch trends. PAGE 2
Tracy Fanara, an environmental engineer and scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and creator of the Inspector Planet YouTube channel, has accepted a position with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Her new role will be contributing to a Unified Earth Systems model to better understand the planet. “In just the first days, I’ve met so many brilliant and driven scientists, engineers, programmers and mangers,” she said in an Instagram post. “I’m ready to change the world!”
SUMMER’S OVER
Squeaky clean
Lazy Lobster has received a new seal of approval with the top sanitation and safety award from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. It’s one of the first 100 restaurants to receive the honor that means Lazy Lobster has met enhanced standards for safety and sanitation. “We feel it is vitally important to ensure that our guests and employees trust our complete commitment to sanitation and safety,” Owner Michael Garey said. A handful of other area restaurants were also honored, including The Columbia and Cha Cha Coconuts.
•
Families navigate back to school amid a pandemic. SEE PAGE 3 Eric Garwood Nat Kaemmerer
Easton Nock on the first day of school getting ready for the bus to Anna Maria Elementary.
The town’s 12 public parking sites have been shut since June.
NEIGHBORS
Turtle Tracks LONGBOAT Aug. 16-22 2020 Nests 0 False Crawls 0
2019 2 1
Total as of Aug. 22 2020 2019 Nests 1,136 1,341 False Crawls 1,307 1,518 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Mark Bergin
Tech firm launches Happy 40th birthday! PAGE 14
Pet-sitting app sets up shop in renovated Longboat space. SEE PAGE 4