Bieber takes center stage in April Fools'

Justin Bieber just can’t avoid the limelight — even on paparazzi-free Longboat Key.

The pop star won the hearts of readers in the Longboat Observer’s annual April 1 edition in which we fooled readers by reporting that Biebs had purchased the $22 million Ohana estate at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The story, titled “Justin Bieber’s new baby: $22 million Ohana estate,” received 4,765 online views as of Monday afternoon.

Deputy Town Clerk JoAnn Mixon told the Longboat Observer a new Key resident visited Town Hall April 2 to ask staff if it was true that Bieber was moving to Longboat Key.

“He seemed nervous, like he made a mistake moving to Longboat Key,” Mixon said. “I immediately remembered it must be The Observer’s April Fools’ edition and showed him the jump page that revealed it was a fake story. He seemed relieved.”

Town Clerk Trish Granger said she received a phone call from an NBC News reporter last week who was trying to track down and write a story about Bieber’s move to Longboat Key. Granger sent the Longboat Observer’s phone number, along with a fax of Page 4A of the paper explaining it was an April Fools’ joke.

The Los Angeles-based reporter called the Longboat Observer to confirm that it was, in fact, a prank.
At the office of Ohana architect Guy Peterson, one architect came into the office shaking his head in disbelief at the pop star’s reported purchase of the $22 million estate.

However, our Facebook fans were on to us, posting comments such as “LOL”; “This has to be an April Fools’!”; and “That was good, I almost sent to all my friends on Longboat Key warning them that it was time to move.”

Some readers fell for other April Fools’ stories.

Our other front-page story claimed that officials conspired to create heavier-than-usual seasonal traffic with a Chris Christie-like declaration: “Time for some traffic problems on Longboat Key.”

“Shame on all involved!!!” one reader wrote. “I have been stuck in those traffic jams several times!! Maybe they should pay us for the extra gas we used.”

In the Sarasota Observer, we celebrated April 1 by revealing a guerilla effort by Lido Key residents to steal sand from Siesta Key and Siesta Key’s plans to secede from Sarasota County.

“ … the best story was Siesta Key seceding from Sarasota County! Now that was a hoot along with the buckets of sand taken from the pass by sneaky Lido Key residents dressed in scuba outfits. You definitely made my day!” wrote Maria Bankemper, immediate past chairwoman of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, in an email to the Sarasota Observer.

Diana Corrigan, executive director of the St. Armands Circle Association, praised both Circle-related stories in our April Fools’ editions in an email to the association’s board. “If you have not seen this week’s edition of the Longboat Observer and Sarasota Observer, you are in for a REAL treat!!” she wrote. “As most of you know, this is their ‘April Fools’’ edition — one that we all look forward to every year. There are two great articles about the Circle, however, my favorite is in the Sarasota Observer entitled, ‘Circle puts new spin on traffic’!! It is absolutely hysterical and I LOVE the map!!! Those ‘in the know’ will have a good laugh!”

The Longboat Observer began its April Fools’ issue in 1999, when we announced plans for a Longboat Key McDonald’s, along with an order from state officials to lower Gulf of Mexico Drive’s speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph.

April Fools’ stories were mixed with real news stories throughout the newspaper, with a quarter-page ad announcing our gags on page 22C. Suffice it to say, we got a lot of calls that week.

The Sarasota and East County Observers joined in on the April Fools’ fun in 2010.

So, what does next year hold?

It’s too early to say, because our staffers are still recovering from Bieber fever. But, let’s just say you’d be smart to heed this warning that University Place sent to its residents in response to an April Fools’ story, “Manatee County to remove barriers,” in last week’s East County Observer.

“Our gates are NOT being removed by Manatee County. Of note, is that The Observer historically has done these ‘pranks’ on April Fools’ Day. So a word to wise ... be aware of The Observer’s April Fools’ trickery in 2015!”

Truth is stranger than fiction
Sometimes April Fools’ turns out to be more accurate than we imagined. A few examples from Longboat Observer history:

Headline: “GMD to get roundabouts next season,” 2002
We claimed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) persuaded the town to place three roundabouts on Gulf of Mexico Drive to improve traffic flow, prevent accidents and enhance the beauty of the road. The 2013 Urban Land Institute study recommended — you guessed it — a roundabout for the north end of the Key.

Headline: “Publix to close for remodeling,” 2008
In 2008, we thought Longboaters would be horrified by the prospect of Publix closing for two months in the summer for remodeling. In 2012, Publix closed to rebuild its Longboat Key store — for eight months, rather than two.

Headline: “Colony to be demolished,” 2013
If the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort is demolished, it probably won’t occur in a demolition derby, as last year’s April Fools’ issue claimed. But the town will go building by building at a public hearing in May to determine whether structures meet the criteria for nuisances and the town can require their demolition.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]