LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 38, NO. 11
FREE
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015
Something’s new... INSIDE
Zunz’s successor: Zunz? Pat Zunz’s husband, Ed, is filing to run for her commission seat. PAGE 3A
‘KEY INFLUENCES’
YOUR TOWN
Kristen Herhold
Evelyn Fresch, Shirley Beachum and Francey O’Brien.
Three grande dames, three grand marshals
Photos by Nick Reichert
Tiffany Murray and Laura Henry peek through Natalya Swanson’s cloud piece in the “Key Influence” exhibit
Longboat Key Center for the Arts hosts the opening reception of SARTQ’s “Key Influence” exhibit. SEE PAGE 20A
Evelyn Fresch, Shirley Beachum and Francey O’Brien, all former members of the Women’s Army Corps, have lived on Longboat Key for years but never met until last year’s inaugural Rotary Club of Longboat Key Veterans Day Parade. Now close friends, the women meet up for lunch monthly. Now, Rotary Club has chosen the trio as this year’s parade grand marshals. “I’m very pleased they chose us,” Evelyn Fresch said. “I’m very honored to do it.”
Owner seeks tourism zoning for plaza KURT SCHULTHEIS SENIOR EDITOR
Whitney Beach Plaza owner Ryan Snyder’s offer of a lease with free rent for three years drew interest from an undisclosed Sarasota grocery store tenant. But the deal for the 11,000-square-foot anchor
space fell through last month. Now, Snyder’s focus has shifted from leasing up the plaza to trying to determine a sustainable future for it.
Molly Schechter
Proud of our Grandma
SEE PAGE 6A
She’s our Aerobic Grandma and Observer contributer. She’s also a tireless volunteer. So we’re proud the Friendship Centers is honoring Molly Schechter at its inaugural “People Helping People” awards breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 20, at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota. The breakfast salutes champions in our community who benefit older adults. Tickets are $75. Call 556-3205. Kurt Schultheis
The Whitney Beach Plaza property will undergo a referendum sometime next year to ask for a zoning change to allow for a tourism use on the site.