bserver O
LONGBOAT
You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.
NEIGHBORS
DIVERSIONS
Sarasota singer Joseph Ryan hits all the right notes. INSIDE
Claude Engle sheds some light on design projects. PAGE 12A
OUR TOWN
signing off
Thursday, JANUARY 19, 2012
NEIGHBORHOOD
Christ Church members celebrate new sanctuary during dedication. PAGE 1B
by Robin Hartill | City Editor
Association disputes Klauber’s claims In a Jan. 16 letter to Town Manager David Bullock, Colony Association attorney Donald E. Hemke argued that the association doesn’t need the approval of the resort’s longtime owner to proceed.
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The Colony Beach & Tennis Association believes it can move forward with plans for redeveloping the historic resort — even without the approval of longtime owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber. Association attorney Donald E. Hemke sent a letter Jan. 16, to Longboat Key Town Manager Da-
vid Bullock disputing many of the claims Klauber made in a Dec. 12 letter to the town. In the letter, Hemke wrote that after reviewing the application, the association believes it can apply for a planned-unit development, outline-development plan and/ or site-plan approvals for a pro-
posed redevelopment of 15 acres of the condominium common elements of the property, regardless of whether Klauber joins in the application. The letter states that the association’s plan calls for creating a new condominium in conjunction with terminating the existing
condominium. The current plan does not call for developing four contiguous parcels totaling three acres within the property that are controlled by Klauber and his companies. In his Dec. 12 letter, Klauber
SEE COLONY / PAGE 2A
Courtesy photos
Former first lady Laura Bush and Longboat Key Club and Resort Head Concierge Gloria Schroeder
+ Former first lady makes the rounds Laura Bush has a penchant for chocolate-chip cookies. This was one thing the staff at the Longboat Key Club and Resort learned while hosting the former first lady during her recent visit. Bush was the speaker Jan. 11 at the Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series.
TUBA DUDES Mallory Gnaegy
Charles Schlarbaum, middle, directs the Sarasota Circus Concert Band at the Circus Ring of Fame ceremony Sunday, Jan. 15, at St. Armands Circle Park. Schlarbaum was previously inducted into the Ring of Fame. See more photos online at YourObserver.com.
SPIRITUAL SCHISM
by Robin Hartill | City Editor
Church members will decide Gill’s future + Truckload of thanks rolls in D.M. Williams, manager at Casa Del Mar, has been a big supporter of the Longboat Key Fire Rescue. In December, he gave them a Christmas donation, and in thanks, they all stopped by the resort — truck and all — to thank him.
The Longboat Island Chapel’s board notified the Rev. Kenneth Gill of its decision last week to place him on administrative leave, but chapel members will have the final say over his future.
The Rev. Kenneth Gill is on paid administrative leave following a Tuesday, Jan. 10 vote by the Longboat Island Chapel’s board of trustees. Gill told the Longboat Observer that six board members arrived
at his church office the next day to notify him of their decision. “I was quite surprised,” Gill said. “I don’t know what their motivation was, but apparently they wanted me out.” The board notified chapel
members of the vote in an email Wednesday. “ … on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, the board voted to place the Rev. Kenneth Gill on ‘leave of absence’ effective today, Jan. 11, 2012, through Jan. 31, 2012,” the
email stated. “We pledge to you that we accept the trust that you have placed in us and well understand our obligation to fulfill this trust by rolling up our
SEE GILL / PAGE 2A
INDEX Bridge Bites....... 11B Briefs....................4A
Calendar............ 11A Classifieds ........ 13B
Cops Corner..........9A Crossword.......... 12B
Opinion.................8A Weather............. 13B
Vol. 34, No. 25 | Three sections YourObserver.com