www.lbknews.com Friday, January 22, 2010 Page 15

Whitney Beach PlazaYour Shopping and

Dining headquarterson the North End

of Longboat Key...

Steff’s StuffAntiques & Treasures

Longboat Key’s only Antique Shopjewelry • crystal & colored glassvintage clothing & accessories

chandeliers & lamps • florida collectables

383-19016828 Gulf of Mexico Dr • Whitney Beach Plaza

Longboat Body RetreatMassage • Facials • Yoga

HOLIDAY GIFT CERTIFICATESWith $100 Gift Certificate purchase

RECEIVE ADDITIONAL $25 CERTIFICATEwww.longboatbodyretreat.com

Located in Whitney Plaza6824 Gulf of Mexico Drive

941.383.9692HOLIDAY GIFT BASKETS AVAILABLE!

Closed Sun-MonWalk-ins welcome!

Whitney Beach Deli & Liquors

• 750 ml Bottles of Wine on Sale Daily• Full Liquor Store• Open Breakfast/Lunch• Homemade Soups• Homemade Quiche

383-4888Open Mon-Sat. 8am - 8pmSunday 8am - 4pm

6810-6860 Gulf of Mexico Dr • Whitney Beach Plaza

TINY’S FAMOUS BARTHE

FRIENDLY BAR

Football Sundays 1:00 pm

DANCINGANDNIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT

383-3355 WHITNEY BEACH PLAZA

KEY T-SHIRT SHOPBest T-shirts on

Longboat Key• T-SHIRTS• BEACH BAGS & TOWELS• SWEATSHIRTS• CAPS & VISORS• MUCH, MUCH MORE!

383.32786838 GULF OF MEXICO DR WHITNEY BEACH PLAZA

DESIGNDESIGNDESIGNDESIGNDESIGN 2

00

0 EXCELLENCEAND EXPERIENCE

IN HAIR AND NAIL DESIGN

387-9807See Jim LaRose

for 35+ years of experiencein men’s and ladies cuts!

6840 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVEWHITNEY BEACH PLAZA • LONGBOAT KEY

Boyle’s Furniture Refi nishing941-713-5193941-713-5193

Specializing in • Antiques • Upholstery • Custom Faux Finishes • Cornice boards• Headboards

1655 10th Street • Sarasota • FL • 34236

Bayou TavernHappy hour daily from 4:30 to 6:00!

Piano Friday and Saturday!

HOMEMADE PIZZA, PASTA, SEAFOOD AND MORE AT REASONABLE PRICES!!

•WATERFRONT VIE W • FULL BARDINE IN OR TAKE OUT

941.312.49756814 GULF OF MEXICO DR. • WHITNEY BEACH PLAZA • LONGBOAT KEY

Chef Angelo & DomenicoCo-Owners

Manny’s The Island’s #1 BarberNow at Tina’s Beauty Salon!

22 Years on Longboat KeyCall for your appointment today!

383-58775620 Gulf of Mexico Drive • Longboat Key

Professional Touch Dry Cleaners Alterations • Leather & Suede Cleaning Wedding Dress Cleaning & Preserving All Types of Bedding

High Quality Sheet Sets at Discount Pricing6854 Gulf of Mexico Dr. • Longboat Key 343-2158

3333 N. Tamiami Trl • Unit 210 • Sarasota 554-8746Mon-Fri 8 -6 • Sat 9-4 • Sun Closed

380-room Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, or what the good folks in New Orleans might say about how much better off their town is now that Loeb controls 707 rooms and 50,000 square feet of retail and meeting space, you can chime in about what you care about.

You might think that your Commissioner knows what you think, or feels what you feel, or even that since you told him so, you’ve been represented. You might be wrong.

You see, in this sort of “quasi-judicial” proceeding, the only thing that counts, the only evidence or word from you that the Commissioners may vote on, is what they see and hear in these proceedings.

The Loeb managers are actually having their people work overtime, cajoling and schmoozing as many of their true believers and just plain behind-the-gates folks as they can rustle up to appear at the “quasi-judi-cial” proceedings to make their voices heard by the Commission…in their corporate interest, of course, for their bottom line.

So if the Commission doesn’t hear from you, and you, and you, and your neighbor, and your buddy, about what you care about: beach access, nature, views from your place, views of your place, golf lessons, lawn tennis, organic food, architecture, squash, sculpture, density, traf-fic, the future, the past, pollution, building height, polo, sidewalks, crossing the darn street safely, sustainability, bus stops, band stands, bike paths, internet cafés, turtles, taxes, signage, stop lights, turn lanes, kayaks, tiki huts, swim-up bars, restaurants, pesticides, free shuttles, cro-quet, spa treatments, fences, speed bumps, mangroves, movies, water conservation, you name it. You name it.

If the Commission does not hear from you, in person, at these proceedings, in the five minute limit that you have to say your piece and make your influence known,

then no matter how smart, or experienced, or just plain right or just plain wonderful you are, you don’t count. Because they can only vote based on the evidence and the testimony they see and hear now. So, add your voice to the proceedings. It’s really your only chance to show you care. See you there.

Shawn Glen PiersonLongboat Key

Do not become hostage to opposition groups

To: Town CommissionPlease, do not allow Longboat Key to become hostage

to a minority opposition group driven solely by ‘self interest.’ The enhancements to the club and to the key will benefit the entire community…residents, vacation-ers and businesses alike! Conversely, a rejection of the plan will precipitate a gradual decline of our economy and the amenities that are the “backbone” of our com-munity.

We’ve already watched the Colony and other enter-prises falter…surely without investment and renewal this pattern will only continue. This is not just an issue about the Longboat Key Club…it is about the survival and prosperity of Longboat Key.

Arthur WarshawLongboat Key

Plan not consistent with Comprehensive Plan

To: Town CommissionWe are writing to urge you to reject the proposed

development by the Key Club because it simply is not consistent with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, because it is not compatible with the zoning codes, and

because the Islandside planned development was never planned for high intensity commercial use.

Our family, like many neighbors, bought our residence on the basis of the planned development marketed to our family when the condominiums were built. We relied on the scope of development presented, and the Town laws designed to prevent excessive density.

Finally, there are no guarantees that the Key Club will be a reliable developer, even if the scope were smaller, based on their prior experience with the Moorings Marina. Thank you for your consideration and efforts to maintain the integrity of the Town.

Shelley Winkler, Jean Winkler, and Linda WinklerLongboat Key

Don’t be swayed by self-serving misin-formation

To: Town CommissionPlease act fiscally responsibly by approving the LBK

Club’s plans for redevelopment. As permanent residents on LBK, sadly we have

Letters, from page 13

Letters, page 16