Longboat Lookback

+ Dec. 18, 1980
The hour was about 5:30 p.m., but attorney Michael Furen (for his client Jerome B. Ansel) and the town of Longboat Key finally agreed on terms for the swapping of some 17.5 acres of land in return for permission to transfer 75 units to the land Ansel owns on the Gulf of Mexico between The Players Club and Beachplace.

+ Dec. 20, 1990
Mayor Jim Brown has appointed four citizens to a committee to study the concept of affiliating the town of Longboat Key, which is split between Manatee and Sarasota counties, into one county.

In a Dec. 13 memo to the Town Commission announcing the appointments, Brown said the committee’s charge is “to explore the pros and cons of going with one or the other county, staying as now or to form a separate county.”

Several town commissioners have been miffed at either Sarasota or Manatee County or both in recent months because of disputes ranging from the distribution of tourist tax revenues to the distribution of sand from dredging projects.

+ Dec. 20, 1999
Retired Gen. Jim Edmundson will be honored Dec. 19, when he is presented the first Longboat Observer Lifetime Achievement Award.

Edmundson, a three-star Air Force general and 26-year resident of Longboat Key, is being recognized for his service to his country and his involvement with Longboat Key. He served four years on the Town Commission and one year as mayor. For 11 years he was a weekly Longboat Observer columnist. He served 36 years in the Air Force.

+ Dec. 21, 2006
Sometime before 4 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, a boat piloted by Cuban smugglers reached the shore of north Longboat Key. In the shallow water off Greer Island, aka Beer Can Island, the two men dropped off seven Cuban women and 17 Cuban men between the ages of 21 and 56.

The refugees walked to Gulf of Mexico Drive, where a passing shrimp delivery man saw them huddled on both sides of the street and called police.

Several were treated for hypothermia and dehydration by Key police and paramedics.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Immigration and Naturalization Service were called.
Longboat Key resident Luis Ortiz served as a translator during the incident the incident.

+ Dec. 20, 2007
The Longboat Key Club purchased Longboat Key Moorings Dec. 14, for $8 million, fulfilling a goal of Key Club Manager Michael Welly’s that took more than three years of negotiations and three separate offers.
“The purchase of the Moorings is a logical extension for the Longboat Key Club,” Welly said. “This is simply the next strategic step in our overall master plan to create the No. 1 club, resort and golfing community in Florida. Members and guests will now have access to a full marina and yacht services.”

+ Dec. 21, 2000
The temperature was a bit cool, but it was a warm and friendly group of residents and guests who turned out Dec. 18, for an old-fashioned community carol sing at Holiday in the Park celebration at Joan M. Durante Park. Performing were the Kiwanis Karolers, accompanied by Kenny Soderblom on the saxophone.

Compiled by Dora Walters