LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
How could this be boring? PAGE 1B
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 38, NO. 25
FREE
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016
911: A big switch The town prepares to transfer its 911 service to Sarasota County.
YOUR TOWN
SEE PAGE 3A Courtesy photos
John Balerna
Sugar rush
Twin Shores’ helping hands
Maryann Mazzaferro knows cookies bring common ground. SEE PAGE 12A
Twin Shores resident Diane Brandlein would like to thank someone who knows what it means to be a good neighbor: John Balerna, 91, who helped her when she was remodeling her home. Balerna and his wife of 66 years, Pat, have lived at Twin Shores for 27 years. He previously served as vice president of Twin Shores and continues to be a resident expert on seawalls, boat docks, boat houses and the plumbing and infrastructure. “I get teary-eyed and a lump in my throat thinking about how much he helped me,” Brandlein said. “He helped me like a father. I know he would help anyone.”
Gino Del Pup and Bob Miccio
Kristen Herhold
Maryann Mazzaferro, aka the “Cookie Lady” of Rome, N.Y., center, delivers cookies to Longboat Key Fire Rescue firefighter/paramedic Denny Bickel, Lt. Kerri Brooks, and firefighter/paramedics Jose Rivera and Todd Mortenson.
‘FROM BAD TO WORSE’
Who says manicure and pedicures are just for women? Seaplace residents Gino Del Pup, Bob Miccio and Bob Neudorfer celebrated their reunion for the season at Longboat Key Nails. Their wives submitted a spa day photo to the Longboat Observer.
BLACK
TIE
Opera spends ‘An Evening on the Nile.’ INSIDE
Cold fronts yield a flurry of sand loss on eroded beaches. SEE PAGE 5A
Man-icure time
Kurt Schultheis
Sand blew off the beach from the strong winds into North Shore Road. Town staff placed cones along a strip of sand nearby that needs placed back onto the beach.