LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 43, NO. 9
FREE
YOUR TOWN
•
Gathering in person.
PAGE 20 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020
Rod rules approved Commission OKs 6-foot height over some residents’ objections PAGE 6
Courtesy photo
A new breeding pair of swans? David Novak, the island’s unofficial expert on swans, is working to bring a new breeding pair of the graceful birds to the island. Not that there’s anything wrong with Greta and Clark. They were wonderful parents to a cygnet that hatched in May but died in July. They have struggled to produce fertile eggs. Novak said he has his eye on a pair in Lakeland and a pair out of state. “That’s just the way nature is,” Novak said. Greta and Clark came to the Longboat Key Club’s Harbourside golf course in 2018. The most recent cygnet died soon after returning from the last of four trips to the veterinarian after a host of health problems.
PRAISED PUPS Humans, pets enjoy a blessed day. SEE PAGE 18
Mark Bergin
Longboat Key’s public beach parking was open Friday at 2825 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The town has 12 public beach access points.
Parking restored at beach
Hockey fans light up at win While lightning rods took center stage at Town Hall, Tampa Bay Lightning fans in Longboat rejoiced last week over their hockey team’s Stanley Cup title. “I think I took maybe five breaths in the last 10 minutes of the game,” Chris Sachs said. Sachs became a Lightning fan when he moved to the area — and a few of his favorite New York Rangers players moved south, too. “I was struck by Lightning,” Sachs said.
Nat Kaemmerer
The Rev. Dave Marshall blesses Clemmy at All Angels Episcopal as owners Dave and BJ Bishop look on. Marshall brought the traditional pet blessing to Longboat last fall.
Turtle Tracks LONGBOAT Sept. 27-OCT. 3 2020 Nests 0 False Crawls 0
2019 0 0
Total as of Oct. 3 2020 2019 Nests 1,136 1,342 False Crawls 1,307 1,518 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Public lots, other facilities are back in business after three months. PAGE 3
Condominium plan rolls out
Condos at the proposed Sage Longboat Key will feature wine storage, walk-in closets, marble countertops and spa-like bathrooms.
Development proposed to replace Sun ‘n Sea. PAGE 4 Courtesy rendering