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bserver LONGBOAT
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
LOVEBIRDS
Longboat Key welcomes its newest couple. PAGE 13A
OUR TOWN
membership vote
free • THURSDAY, april 18, 2013
DIVERSIONS
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Cami Leavitt turns stylish ambition into a posh business. INSIDE
A group of Village artists share their talents with others. PAGE 1B
by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor
Chapel votes no on cell tower lease Although a lease to place a cell tower on Island Chapel property will not be renewed, Alpha Omega says it’s the only viable option.
Kurt Schultheis
Jan Schmidt and Jason Schmidt
+ A hero's honor Public Works Department employee Jason Schmidt received a citizen citation certificate at the Longboat Key Town Commission's Monday, April 15, workshop for helping to escort three people out of a Land’s End home that was destroyed by a fire March 21. Schmidt saw heavy smoke coming from the home, owned by real-estate magnate Michael Saunders’ sister, Joan Bergstrom, and rushed to the scene to ensure Bergstrom, her daughter and grandson were out before Longboat Key Fire Rescue crews arrived. When asked to say a few words, Schmidt said, “I'm not looking for any recognition. I just did what I hope any person would do if they were in that same situation.” Schmidt’s proud grandma, Jan Schmidt, attended the meeting.
The Longboat Island Chapel membership voted 52-16 in favor of letting a cellular tower lease on its property expire July 26. The congregation held a special members-only meeting Sunday, April 14, to vote on
whether to approve an extension of a three-year lease agreement for a 150-foot cell tower to be built on the church property or to let the lease expire. In a press release Monday, the chapel membership said, “The majority vote by members was
REPORT CARD
to let the lease expire.” Chapel Board of Trustees President Larry Steagall called the meeting “calm and collected.” “It’s the first time the membership had a vote, and they made their voices heard,” Steagall said.
Jim Eatrides, owner of Alpha Omega Communications LLC, and Kevin Barile, a project partner with Ridan Industries LLC, have been working on placing a tower on the north end of the Key for more than four years to bridge a cellular-coverage gap on the north end. They both called the membership vote “ex-
SEE CELL TOWER / 9A
by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor
Police chief: first year in review There was no time for on-the-job training when Pete Cumming became the Key’s top cop following the sudden death of longtime Police Chief Al Hogle.
Katie Hendrick
The Rev. Donald H. Ashmall and the Rev. Dr. Vince Carroll
+ LBIC installs the Rev. Dr. Vince Carroll More than 200 parishioners welcomed the Rev. Dr. Vince Carroll as the sixth senior pastor at Longboat Island Chapel Sunday, April 7. Carroll, who has led services since the Advent season, is a former Naval chaplain who came to Longboat Key by way of Mackinac Island, Mich., where he preached at The Little Stone Church. Go to yourobserver. com to read Carroll’s reflections on the past few months and his plans for the future.
SEE OT / PAGE 17A
Kurt Schultheis
Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming feels at home in his current position now. This past year he restructured the police department and revived a license plate camera recognition system.
T
he first year of a new job is usually difficult. You’re still learning the ropes, creating a niche for yourself and getting comfortable with your position and surroundings. But, if there were a contest for the most adversity faced during the first year of a job, Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming’s transition would be almost im-
possible to beat. Cumming has been the town’s police chief for almost a year now. He officially reaches the one-year mark May 14. But, the way he got the job was difficult, and when asked to review his first year as chief, Cumming felt obligated to start at the beginning. Cumming was a police cap-
tain who had just parked his patrol car at the Atlas beach access on the morning of May 14. He got a call from longtime police receptionist Marilyn Dzikas, who said he immediately needed to call back a friend of then Police Chief Al Hogle. “He was up there riding in the mountains with Al and explained Al was in a crash and
didn’t make it,” Cumming said. “I sat there in a daze for a minute before I took off for Sarasota to let Al’s wife know before she got the news from other sources.” Cumming, along with former Sarasota Police Chief Mikel Holloway, among others, knocked
SEE CUMMING / 2A
INDEX Briefs....................4A Calendar............ 14A
Classifieds ........ 13B Crossword.......... 12B
Neighborhood...... 1B Opinion.................8A
Real Estate.......... 8B Weather............. 12B
Vol. 35, No. 37 | Three sections YourObserver.com