LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
Good neighbors.
PAGE 16A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 43, NO. 38
FREE
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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021
Beach work rolls on
YOUR TOWN
Renourishment project draws a lot of attention. SEE PAGE 4A
Nat Kaemmerer
Schechter’s celebration Well-known woman about town and former Observer Black Tie editor and Aerobic Grandma columnist Molly Schechter celebrated her 80th birthday April 27, surrounded by family and friends. The party was Schechter’s first big shindig since the pandemic, held at Sarasota Garden Club, and Schechter provided custom, bright-green masks that said, “I masked up for Molly’s 80th!” Schechter describes herself as a “mad, passionate gardener,” and her bash featured meals delivered with the message, “Friends are flowers in the garden of life.”
DIRTY DOGS Dogs don’t mind the sparse grass of the town’s dog park. Their owners have another take. SEE PAGE 3A
Mark Bergin
Bayfront Park’s dog park opened in July 2017. Town leaders are planning to resod it this summer, responding to complaints of dirty dogs.
Courtesy photo by Renee Odell
Facebook photo finish Good photography isn’t rare when your subject is the stunningly photogenic Longboat Key. Longboat Key resident Karen Coltun, who runs the Facebook page “Longboat Key Life,” hosted a photo contest among her page members in March. Out of a couple dozen submissions, she picked six that ranged from photos of birds to a stormy day on the beach to splendid sunsets. Winners took home Lazy Lobster, Solorzano’s and Publix gift cards. Coltun’s said she plans to do another contest in May.
Focus on Mother Earth Church’s eco event puts nature front and center with displays, talks. SEE PAGE 1B Nat Kaemmerer
Judy Govalet greets visitors to Longboat Island Chapel.
A+E Film festival ready to roll. SEE PAGE 19A