Our Town

+ Picture this: a Fourth of July photo-op
This annual photo contest is as American as apple pie. And, you still have a chance to snap up a slice of American life for our “Spirit of America” contest. Submit your photos by Saturday, June 25 online at YourObserver.com. Vote for your favorite photo up to 10 times a day from June 25 through June 27, by clicking on your favorite photo. The grand-prize winner will receive a digital camera and be featured in the “Spirit of America” special section, which will be published June 30.

+  Kiwanian canine comes to breakfast
Longboat Key Club and Resort General Manager Michael Welly was the speaker at the June 16 Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key meeting, but the true “top dog” was Ripley Wild. That’s right, Kiwanian John Wild brought his beagle, Ripley, to the breakfast meeting. And, judging from this picture, this dog was all ears for Welly’s talk.

+  Historical Society seeks T-shirt designs
The Longboat Key Historical Society is holding a contest for the best beach T-shirt. If you think your design would fit the Historical Society to a “T,” email your submission to [email protected].

+  Key Club honors its outstanding employees
The Longboat Key Club and Resort honored five of its outstanding employees June 15, at a quarterly “Memory Makers” luncheon. An employee from each of the resort’s five disciplines was honored. This quarter’s winners were Alex Trevino, of the rooms department; Andy Defee, of administration; Sam Barlow, of the Key Club; Lifiate Poliard, of housekeeping; and Steve Dart, of food and beverage operations.

+  Philanthropy runs in the Kreindler family
From Longboater Ruth Kreindler comes this report of a caring, action-oriented grandchild. Kreindler’s daughter, Laurie Kreindler, runs a charity that supports a school for some 200-plus students in rural Cambodia. Laurie Kreindler took her daughter, Abby, a junior at Vanderbilt, with her on a recent visit, during which she found bright-eyed students eager to learn but struggling to concentrate because they had nothing to eat. So, Abby Kreindler launched a bakery project called Breakthe Fast to put food in their tummies so they can put knowledge in their minds. Learn more at Breakthe Fast’s Facebook page, which chronicles this youthful initiative. To support the program, email [email protected].