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Your Observer

Brian and Jen Blanco
  • By Jen and Brian Blanco
  • October 15, 2014
Mall madness

East County couple Jen and Brian Blanco give you the inside scoop on their strategies for the Mall at University Town Center's grand opening. Follow their mall journey below.

  • East County
  • News
Carol Diamant and Eli Brickman hosted friends Saturday, Oct. 11, at a celebration of life service for their late father, Ed Brickman.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 15, 2014
A fitting tribute

A day after receiving an Ageless Creativity Award from the Ringling College/Longboat Key Center for the Arts in honor of their late father, Ed Brickman, daughter Carol Diamant and son Eli Brickman held a celebration of life service Saturday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Harold Ronson and Stephen Spinelli
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 15, 2014
Alma mater honors Harold Ronson

Philadelphia University presented Longboat Key resident Harold Ronson with its 'Leadership in Philanthropy' award Oct. 11, at its Homecoming Dinner Dance.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 15, 2014
Sheriff awaits dispatch answer

The Town Commission will discuss Sarasota County's offer to handle 911 services in November. Changes loom regardless of its response.er.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jupiter Inlet Colony is one of several communities on Florida's east coast that have recently buried underground utilities. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 15, 2014
Commission decision could give voters power

Commissioners will discuss an ordinance that would ask voters in March whether to bury utilities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bayfront Park has a baseball field, tennis courts and playground. Its Recreation Center building is used for fitness classes and occasional meetings and debates. File photo
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 15, 2014
The Bayfront Park Question

The town will soon revisit an issue that's familiar to any longtime resident.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort has been shuttered since August 2010. File photo
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 15, 2014
Hours of arguments, no rulings in Colony case

Attorneys didn't have time to finish arguments during a three-and-a-half hour hearing.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • October 15, 2014
Sarasota Charter Review Board

Eleven candidates are vying for five seats on the Charter Review Board, which was established to safeguard - or update - Sarasota County's constitution.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Braden River's Joana Kancheva heads for the wall in the girls 200-yard medley relay.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 15, 2014
County champs

Braden River, Lakewood Ranch focus on state championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jason Mickan
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 15, 2014
Familiar Face

Former JV boys basketball coach Jason Mickan was recently named Braden River's new varsity coach.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 15, 2014
High Five Moments of the Week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Cardinal Mooney running back Jaz Mongeon, left, carried the ball six times for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the Cougars’ non-district win.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 15, 2014
Football Friday

The Observer recaps the week in football.

  • East County
  • Sports
Quarterback Reese Vita broke Cardinal Mooney’s passing record in the first quarter of Friday’s game against St. Pete Catholic. Photo by Jen Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 15, 2014
Reese breaks passing mark

Quarterback Reese Vita broke Cardinal Mooney's all-time record of 3,375 passing yards, set by Jamie Burke in 2001, Oct. 10.

  • East County
  • Sports
Vincent Veneruso submitted this photo of a bald eagle perched on a branch, taken on White Eagle Boulevard near State Road 70.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 15, 2014
Weather: East County

Visit YourObserver.com to submit your local weather photos. Each weekly winner will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $25 gift card.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The future alignment of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard travels what is now Wendell Kent Road, in front of Church of Hope, before turning east on Richardson Road. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 15, 2014
SMR starts engineering process for roadway

SMR likely will divide engineering and construction of the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard extension into two segments.

  • East County
  • News
Richard Bedford, 55, becomes the vice president of planning for SMR Oct. 20.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 15, 2014
SMR names Bedford new VP of planning

Longtime Manatee County Planning Commission Chairman Richard Bedford becomes the latest to oversee SMR's development.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 15, 2014
FDOT advances University interchange project

Six months ago, improvements to the University Parkway/I-75 interchange weren't on FDOT's five-year work program. Now, construction is 10 months away.

  • East County
  • News
SMR CEO Rex Jensen addresses a crowd of nearly 100 on Sunday at Town Hall. Photo by Alex Rostowsky
  • By Alex Rostowsky
  • October 15, 2014
Ranch residents should prepare for more urbanism

SMR's CEO says a plan has always been in place to build denser housing to attract workers to live in the area.

  • East County
  • News
"Alike" writer and co-director Carrie Dutting describes the short film as a sci-fi drama. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • October 15, 2014
Student film illustrates moral message

Fifteen-year-old Carrie Dutting wrote a movie script in a week and co-directed a film unlike others in its genre.

  • East County
  • News
  • By Alex Rostowsky
  • October 15, 2014
Business Alliance ponders Amendment 2 implications

A medical marijuana forum showcased the questions and concerns with which Lakewood Ranch officials wrestle.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • October 15, 2014
Bacchus on the Beach toasts food, wine

The festival features plenty of wine and stone crab claws for a good cause.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 15, 2014
News Briefs

Former Arbomar building manager files suit; Longboat Key Fire Rescue gets high marks from citizens; Duncan qualifies to run for third term on commission

  • Longboat Key
  • News
For Mote to move forward with its plans to grow, CEO Michael Crosby says the organization needs a firm endorsement from the city. File photo
    By
  • David Conway
  • October 15, 2014
Mote gathers support for bayfront aquarium

While the Sarasota EDC endorses the project fully, the Sarasota Chamber generally supports the idea, but wants more details.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Juan Florensa
  • October 15, 2014
Healthy beaches offer more than scenery

The town's beach management efforts don't just protect views. Healthy beaches protect people, property and wildlife on barrier islands.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Abgott
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • October 15, 2014
Longboat luminaries

The Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design honors six 'Longboat Key luminaries' this season in its sixth annual Ageless Creativity series. These artists show how the creative process transcends time.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This home at 640 Rountree Drive has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,480 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.45 million. Photo by Caleb Motsinger
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 15, 2014
Longboat Key Estates home sells for $3.45 million

A home in Longboat Key Estates tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Three Things: Brand New
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • October 15, 2014
Three Things: Brand New

If you want a brand-new house but don't want to live in a brand-new community, you're in luck. All over town, in Sarasota's great old neighborhoods, there's a building boom going on.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
File photo
  • By Caleb Motsinger and Kristen Herhold
  • October 15, 2014
Business Briefs

Wells Fargo gives third grant to Mote Marine; St. Armands Circle looks to get two new businesses; Beach Residences units sell for combined $5,595,000

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Susan Molnar submitted this photo of a green heron doing the "Nik Wallenda" outside the Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 15, 2014
Weather: Longboat Key

Visit YourObserver.com to submit your local weather photos. Each weekly winner will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $25 gift card.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This home at 10416 Riverbank Terrace has four bedrooms, three-and-half baths, a pool and 4,536 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.04 million. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 15, 2014
A home in Waterlefe tops sales at $1.04 million

A home in Waterlefe Golf and River Club tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Renee Balogh, Diane Gans and Elle Cook
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • October 14, 2014
Key to the Cure

Key to the Cure

  • Black Tie
Lourdes Ramirez, president of CONA, thanked the candidates and two dozen audience members for attending the forum.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • October 14, 2014
CONA questions candidates on 2050 platforms

Sarasota County Commission candidates nailed down their stances on Sarasota 2050 at the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations forum Monday.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Contractors will close a portion of the 1500 block of Main Street for the next month while working on renovations for Taco Bus and Evie’s.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • October 14, 2014
Work starts on downtown Taco Bus, bowling alley

Sarasota's Main Street is about 200 days away from having a bowling alley within an Evie's and a Taco Bus, as construction has started on storefronts owned by entrepreneur Jesse Biter.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 14, 2014
Mustangs win 5th straight district crown

The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team captured its fifth-consecutive Class 3A-District 14 championship Oct. 13, at Misty Creek Country Club in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 14, 2014
Lady Blazers prevail in five

The Sarasota Christian volleyball team came back to beat The Out-of-Door Academy 11-25, 25-19, 28-26, 22-25, 15-9 in non-district action Oct. 13.

  • East County
  • Sports
Longboat Key Fire Rescue has 33 uniformed personnel divided into three shifts.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 14, 2014
Longboat Key Fire Rescue gets high marks from citizens

In a recent survey, 98% of patients said they received outstanding or excellent care.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
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Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
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Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
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The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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