Longboat Observer 03.01.12

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LONGBOAT

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

SEASON SPECIAL

The Observer’s Guide TO The ArTs And sOcieTy | sPrinG 2012

INSIDE

DIVERSIONS

A comprehensive guide Peter Amster lifts to the Longboat Key Noël Coward’s Home & Garden Tour. ‘Fallen Angels’ out of obscurity. INSIDE

Look inside for your spring guide to the arts and society.

OUR TOWN

Thursday, MARCH 1, 2012

election Q&A

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

2012 DISTRICT 3 COMMISSION

Mallory Gnaegy

+ Jessica Korda featured in magazine Teenager Jessica Korda just won the 2012 Women’s Australian Open — her first LPGA Tour title. Golf Digest Woman magazine will be featuring the young athlete in an upcoming edition and did a photo shoot last week with her and photographer Walter Iooss at the Longboat Key Club and Resort. Korda comes from an athletic family — her father, Petr, won the 1998 Australian Open tennis title. She and her parents practice at Longboat Key Club and Resort — when Korda isn’t traveling the world winning golf tournaments, that is.

Photo courtesy of Christina Filkins

John and Mary Bock

+ Longboat Harbour goes West The residents at Longboat Harbour don’t usually wear spurs and leather chaps, but when they got together for a Western-themed party Thursday, Feb. 23, that’s exactly what they did! Fake mustaches and sparkly cowgirl hats were just two Westerninspired accessories.

+ All Angels to host creative afternoon All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road, is hosting a Flower Arranging 101 demonstration from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 8. The demo will highlight techniques for creating arrangements for the home and gifts. Cost is $15, with proceeds going to the food pantry at St. George’s Episcopal Church. Call 3838161 to RSVP; seating is limited.

SEE OUR TOWN / 16A

DAVID BRENNER

RAY RAJEWSKI

Vice Mayor David Brenner believes Longboat Key is a residential community that needs a mix of tourism.

Ray Rajewski is seeking the District 3 Commission seat because he believes residents need an alternative.

Vice Mayor David Brenner has been at the dais as Longboat Key history has unfolded over the past two years: There was the 2010 approval of the Longboat Key Club and Resort’s $400 million renovation-and-expansion plan, the hiring of Town Manager David Bullock in 2011 and, just last month, the approval of plans for a new Publix. But Brenner’s proudest moments on the commission haven’t generated as much public attention. He considers some of his most noteworthy accomplishments to be obtaining funding for the trolley; making inroads with Sarasota and Manatee counties through his seats on both county Economic Development Corporations and the Sarasota Tourist Development Council, along with his attendance at Manatee County Tourist Development Council meetings; and the adoption of the Vision Plan last year. And, if re-elected, one of his top priorities will be to implement the document, which outlines goals “to improve a resident’s quality of life” such as

Ray Rajewski calls himself “the residents’ representative.” He doesn’t mean he’s antibusiness. He points to Harry’s Continental Kitchens and Lazy Lobster Longboat Key as examples of businesses that have managed to be successful by providing value. He doesn’t mean he’s antiredevelopment. He thinks the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort should have redeveloped years ago. He points to the Longboat Key Club and Resort as an example of a property that has redeveloped to the point that it’s a Four Diamond resort. Rajewski, 68, thinks he’s typical of many residents who want the island to retain the character it had when they bought their properties. “I think we all moved to Longboat Key because we could,” he said. “I’ve lived all over the country, in places where I’ve had to live because of a job … People moved here for what it could be. They want it to stay that way.” For two decades, Longboat Key was Rajewski’s favorite es-

Bio

David Brenner Age: 75 Hometown: Philadelphia Residence: Islander Club Education: Degree in economics from the Wharton School; CPA license from the state of Pennsylvania. Career: Retired certified public accountant and managing partner of Arthur Young; former commerce-andfinance director for the city of Philadelphia Interesting fact: Brenner is acquainted with another David Brenner — i.e. the Philadelphia comedian of the same name. The Longboat Observer published a picture of both Brenners together in February 2007. encouraging redevelopment of tourism facilities and strategies that would enhance retail ameni-

SEE BRENNER / 6A

Bio

Ray Rajewski Age: 68 Hometown: Boston Residence: The Bayou Education: Degree in business from Burdett College in Boston Career: Former executive vice president and chief operating officer of Paramount and CBS television stations based in Los Angeles Interesting fact: Rajewski’s first visit to Longboat Key was on a guys’ long weekend in 1983. Since then they’ve made it an annual tradition and recently held their 28th long weekend. cape from his hectic career as a TV executive. A U.S. Army veteran, he earned a business degree from Burdett College, in Boston, where he got his start at a local

SEE RAJEWSKI / 7A

INDEX Bridge Bites....... 10B Briefs....................4A

Calendar............ 12A Classifieds ........ 12B

Cops Corner....... 10A Crossword.......... 11B

Opinion.................8A Weather............. 11B

Vol. 34, No. 31 | Five sections YourObserver.com


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