Letters to the Editor

+ A note of thanks and appreciation
Dear Editor:
When disaster from nature occurs, i.e. hurricanes or tornadoes here in Florida, confusion settles in the aftermath. Not so here at Gulfshore of Longboat Key or Twin Shores, because of the dedicated people of Relief Ministries, Calvary Chapel of Sarasota, headed by Curt and Mary Jo Hencye. They were here in the early-morning hours with their crew working in concert for both parks and stayed until the evening and continued through Saturday hauling away debris.

They are a voluntary mission, giving their services world-wide. However, they do accept donations, which is deservedly earned.

Also, our police force and firefighters and emergency staff deserve a great deal of our thanks for their exceptional work and concern for the residents.

Thank you to all.
Charlotte Jensen
Longboat Key

+ Thanks to community for support of event
Dear Editor:
The organizing committee for the Breast Cancer Awareness Event held March 20 at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center would like to thank the community for the overwhelming support we received. One business after another was willing to sponsor this event or provide items for the raffle. We would also like to thank the Longboat Observer for its great coverage.

We know that today there are so many demands for support of this kind of event, and we are honored that so many of you chose to participate. With your support, we were able to raise $12,500 for the Breast Health Center at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. These funds will stay in our community and every penny raised will go to provide breast-health services for our community.

Those businesses that provided support deserve to be recognized. Thanks to all of you: Nails of Longboat; Lana Hayes of SRQ Hair Salon; Blue Dolphin; Nosh A Rye; Mar Vista; Ciao Italian Eatery; Granny Knots Baby Sweaters; The Friends of Tennis, Inc.; Marina’s Face, Body and Nail Care; Secur-All Insurance; POS Card Systems, Inc.; Victoria Horstmann Realtor; Green Ginger Hair Design; Beth Callans Management Corporation; Fresh Produce; Lazy Lobster Longboat; Your Fitness Instructor; Natural Discoveries; Dr. Lawrence Kassouf; Contemporary Alternative Care; Design 2000 Hair and Nail Salon; Exit Art; Prestige Services; St. Armands Therapeutic Massage; Pink Angel Boutique; the Longboat Observer; and the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, which hosted the event.
Laurin Goldner
Longboat Key

+ Longboat Key should widen its bike lanes
Dear Editor:
As a baby boomer resident who has recently started biking the length of the Key for exercise, I would like to suggest a solution to the bike-lane debate. The town should widen the bike lane by 18 inches to 24 inches. A slightly wider bike lane would be far safer for both bikers and drivers.

The current bike lane is too narrow to be safe for the many residents who wish to enjoy this form of exercise without fear of being accidentally struck by a car. The town needs to move forward with amenities that genuinely appeal to the now retiring boomers.
Alan Lenowitz
Longboat

+ People should abide by dog-leash law
Dear Editor:
My name is Lilly, and I am an 11-pound poodle who is asking for your help. My mom, Leba, adopted me almost five years ago. I was 3 years old then, and I was so very happy to leave my life of abuse and move to Longboat Key. I was most excited to learn about a place called Durante Park, where I could walk for miles and see lots of kids playing and people walking. I especially liked watching the birds and wildlife that we saw on our walk.

I am very sad because we don’t to go Durante Park anymore. There are so many dogs off their leashes that run up to me and scare me that Mom usually has to pick me up or I try hiding behind her. Some dogs are really big and some are little like me, but I don’t know when they come running up to me unleashed if they are friendly or not, so I start shaking or try to hide.

I can’t go to Durante Park, because it makes my mom so angry that people don’t abide by the leash rule. She says that it isn’t worth my getting so scared when I am there, so now we walk around the Centre Shops, and it isn’t the same. Last Saturday I begged to go to the park one last time, and, sure enough, just as we got out of the car another dog came running up to me that looked kind of mean, so we had to leave.

Do you think that maybe you could print this letter so that dog owners who don’t use leashes might read this and understand how other dogs on leashes might feel? I really want to go back to Durante Park, but I know that I won’t be able to until this problem is solved.
Love,
Lilly