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LONGBOAT
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The Schwieds will make a ‘great loop’ around the U.S. PAGE 1B
Rod Rawlings walks in the shoes of a literary giant. INSIDE
Bayport residents show off their creative sides. PAGE 19A
OUR TOWN
Thursday, FEBRUARY 23, 2012
candidate forum
by Robin Hartill | City Editor
Brenner lays cards on the table at forum Vice Mayor David Brenner wouldn’t bet on a millage increase. And a recent reference to casinos? He says it’s not in the cards.
+ Elusive screech owl is a hoot For years, a screech owl has lived in the backyard of Martin and Deborah Brookses’ residence. Martin Brooks finally managed to capture it on film!
Courtesy photos
+ Tea to Tequila goes Cuban
The Tea to Tequila book club met Feb. 15, with an incredible 37-person turnout at Marcia and David Gutridge’s home. This month’s book was “Waiting for Snow in Havana” by Carlos Eire about life in Havana before and after Fidel Castro. Three guests spoke about their own personal experiences on this subject matter, including Longboater Carol Siegler and book club member Maria Losey. They ended the night with a Cuban dinner and movie.
+ Putterman tells his real age It’s not a lie when Sol Putterman tells people he’s really 21 years old — not 88. On Feb. 29, he will be celebrating his “22nd” birthday. He was born on Feb. 29 and is a Leap Year baby.
Robin Hartill
Vice Mayor David Brenner gives his final remarks to a crowd of more than 50 people Tuesday. A 2012-13 fiscal year mill- ski were invited to the foage increase? Not likely. rum, however, Rajewski deCasinos on Longboat Key? clined, telling the Longboat No way. Observer that, “If it was just And could the Longboat the newspaper, I probably Key Town Commission would accept” and said vote to discontinue that he has “a problem The Colony Beach & with PIC’s agenda.” DISTRICT 3 Tennis Resort’s tour- COMMISSION The forum came ism continuance? exactly one month It’s a possibility. before Brenner and These were a few of Rajewski will face off the issues Longboat Key in the March 20 election Vice Mayor David Brenner and included the followdiscussed Monday, Feb. 20, ing questions from PIC, the at a District 3 Candidate Fo- Longboat Observer and the rum co-hosted by the Long- audience: boat Key Public Interest Committee and the LongHow do you propose makboat Observer. Both Brenner ing a decision on cellular and challenger Ray Rajew- and wireless coverage for
2012
Longboat Key? That decision will be based on the findings of the consulting firm (TE Connectivity Networks Inc., which is currently conducting a Key-wide wireless communication study). What we’ve learned over the past three years is that town staff didn’t have the expertise available to fully study the issue. The technology is changing all the time. TE Connectivity is going to come back with some recommendations, and we’re going to give the findings a lot of credence.
SEE BRENNER / 2A
growing pains by Robin Hartill | City Editor
Residents seek voice in Arts Center future The Arts Center has a plan that could bring in a larger audience. But some Village residents feel ignored in their own backyards. In its 2010-11 season, the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, attracted 2,932 people to its programs, which included lectures, workshops, concerts, openings, classes and more. But despite the revenue generated from programs, along with memberships, the numbers don’t add up for the Arts Center, according to Executive Director Jane Buckman. The Ringling College has been the Arts Center’s primary source of support since a 2007 merger, Buckman said at a Feb. 16 neighborhood meeting. “That can’t be sustained,” Buckman told a crowd of approximately 25 residents. “We need to create programming that will allow us to support ourselves, but we also want to be good neighbors.” The Ringling College has a plan for the Arts Center’s future that would culminate in the 2016 completion of a new two-story building that could be used for flexible retreat space. “The idea is having workshops where artists could come in and provide various types of programs within a cultural framework,” Buckman said. “That could give us the opportunity to have people not only from Florida … but what could be a national, or even international audience.” But several residents of the Longbeach Village, where the Arts Center is located, said that they wanted a stronger voice
SEE ARTS CENTER / 7A
Robin Hartill
Arts Center Executive Director Jane Buckman spoke about the need for the Ringling College division to become financially viable.
INDEX Bridge Bites....... 10B Briefs....................4A
Calendar............ 12A Classifieds ........ 12B
Cops Corner....... 10A Crossword.......... 11B
Opinion.................8A Weather............. 11B
Vol. 34, No. 30 | Three sections YourObserver.com