Longboat Observer announces staff changes

Starting this week, you might be seeing a new — but familiar — face around Town Hall.

Former City Editor Kurt Schultheis is now city editor of the Sarasota Observer and will be based out of our downtown office. Former Community Editor Robin Hartill is now the Longboat Observer’s newest city editor and is ready to tackle all Longboat news.

While covering Longboat’s news beat for the last five years, Schultheis covered everything from the Longboat Key Club and Resort hearings (yes, he attended every one!), the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort closing and hearings, all town meetings and a variety of other news stories. Schultheis’ trademark is his friendly demeanor — to both sources and co-workers — and the ability to write indepth stories on a tight deadline. He’s known as the fastest typist in the office!

“I really enjoyed the ‘Colony Collapse’ piece, because I got to talk to so many different people about their Colony memories,” Schultheis said. “It was bittersweet to write, but fun to listen to the memories and stories that both visitors and Murf Klauber and Katie Moulton had about their resort.

“Some of my favorite memories are enjoying Longboat's events that display the island's small-town character, such as the Old-Time Fish Fry and Freedom Fest.”

Hartill is one of the most versatile writers at the Observer Group. From real-estate trend stories to indepth features and community history profiles, Hartill always puts her signature writing style on everything she does. For the last five years, Hartill has been a Jill-of-all-trades, including taking photos, writing Web updates, tracking down hard-to-find sources who are preparing to board a plane — you name it, she’s done it.

“One of my favorite stories was from 2009, when I wrote a feature about the late Gen. Richard Montgomery and his old GT Bradley car, aka the Gee Bee,” Hartill said. “A recent favorite was my feature about Cash the Key Club dog, because who can resist a dog in a tie?

“My favorite memories are of the many interesting characters I met at Tiny's while sipping an after-work beer and, of course, meeting Jerry Springer.”