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Your Observer

    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 2, 2014
Sidelines

Twelve local skaters headed to nationals; Hockey tournament arrives in Ellenton this week; Rosedale to offer golf instruction for women; University Place cardio tennis registration open

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 2, 2014
Just the Stats

The week in sports by the numbers.

  • East County
  • Sports
ICA says it will cost more than $750,000 to repair the Longboat Pass Bridge. File photo
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 2, 2014
Contractor seeks more than $750,000 for bridge repairs

The company that maintains the Longboat Pass Bridge says the town's contractor damaged the structure during an ongoing project to replace one of two drinking water pipes for the Manatee County side of the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Rev. Norm Pritchard in his new office at Christ Church.Photo by Kristen Herhold
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 2, 2014
Christ Church welcomes new pastor

The Rev. Norm Pritchard looks forward to a warm climate and congregation at the Key church after 19 years in Michigan.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 2, 2014
Underground utilities jolt Town Hall debate

The change of current for last month's ordinance caused a surge of discussion at Monday's commission meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Eva and Donnie Waldroup at last year's Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party. File photo
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 2, 2014
Lawn Party seeks to fatten grants, scholarships

The Kiwanis Club hopes to raise $70,000 for local children at this year’s delectable dining event.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Amy Hood's fifth-grade class gathers around Shane Hense, pictured in his wheelchair. He returned to school Dec. 1 and students saved a desk for his return. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 2, 2014
Classroom welcomes student's return

Student Shane Hense returned for his first day of school at Braden River Elementary Dec. 1.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 2, 2014
Historical Society plans for holiday boat parade

Last year, when Denise Kleiner huddled in her Christmas-decorated motorboat and quietly orchestrated the whereabouts of about a dozen other decorated watercrafts, she hoped the efforts would relaunch an old tradition slowly, but surely.

  • East County
  • News
Retention ponds in Lakewood Ranch are more than just aesthetically pleasing parts of the community, according to Lakewood Ranch Director of Operations Ryan Heise.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 2, 2014
Science fair educates on stormy waterways

UF researchers, Town Hall orchestrate inaugural event to educate and entertain Ranch residents on ponds.

  • East County
  • News
Carolyn Nation, Mary Auger and Norma Kisida are eager to get started on the project. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 2, 2014
Club, CDD partner in butterfly garden project

Lakewood Ranch gardeners will use their green thumbs to attract butterflies to Summerfield Park.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2014
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
RIVER READERS. Marvin Kocian and Dean Congbalay visited the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania. The Longboat Key residents took a riverboat tour on the Danube River from Vienna to Bucharest.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2014
It's Read Everywhere

Headed on a great trip? Make sure to take your Observer along! Snap a photo of you holding your Observer on vacation, then submit it and you could win travel tickets, courtesy of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Cedars Tennis Resort's clubhouse was closed for one day last week after a lightning strike. Photo by Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 2, 2014
Cedars Tennis Resort reopens after lightning strike scare

Firefighters were at the scene for two-and-a-half hours last week responding to an alarm triggered by an electrical issue.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Olivia Garland, 9, will perform in her first leading role this month. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 2, 2014
Taking center stage

For ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ star Olivia Garland, a Braden River Elementary student, acting is a family affair.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 2014
Occasions

The East County Observer would like recognize your family's milestones. To have your announcement included in the East County Observer, please email your information to Senior Editor Pam Eubanks, [email protected].

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This home at 7331 Greystone St. has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,425,000. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 2, 2014
Lake Club home sells for $1.62 million

A home in Lake Club tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Harry and Mary Jo Steltman stand by the first life-size Santa decoration that sits in the entryway to their home.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 2, 2014
Home for the holidays

Walking into the home of Mary Jo and Harry Steltman at Christmastime is a bit magical.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 2, 2014
Couple makes memories

As Phyllis Troy sits at a table at Windsor Reflections Memory Care center, a facility for Alzheimer's disease patients and individuals affected by memory impairment, she throws her hands up, as her hand of cards breaks the count of 21.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cas Bruniany submitted this sunset photo, taken on Thanksgiving Eve near Legacy Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 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. One grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 flooring makeover.*

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Photos by Mark Wemple
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 2, 2014
Buzzworthy

John Saputo's Gold Coast Eagle office is a testament to a life well lived.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 2, 2014
Tennis Center nets 15th annual Observer Challenge

Get your game faces on: From Dec. 12 to Dec. 14, the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center will hold the annual Observer Challenge tournament.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy photo
  • By Robin Hartill and Kristen Herhold
  • December 2, 2014
Business Briefs

Pettingell tradition sweetens Thanksgiving for his customers; Chamber sponsors two families through Adopt-A-Family; Realtors accept Lawn Party raffle challenge

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Unit 905 at The Beach Residences, 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive, has two bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,302 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.6 million. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 2, 2014
Beach Residences condo sells for $2.6 million

A condominium in The Beach Residences tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
John Caviglia submitted this photo, taken at Beach Harbor Club on Thanksgiving Eve.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 2, 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. One grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 flooring makeover.*

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Hosts Katie and Jesse Biter
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 2, 2014
Sarasota Ballet Private Reception

Sarasota Ballet Private Reception

  • Black Tie
Heidi Brown and Debbie Haspel
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 2, 2014
Women's Day featuring guest speaker Camryn Manheim

Women's Day featuring guest speaker Camryn Manheim

  • Black Tie
Jack Brill, president of the Sarasota Republican Club, and Phyllis Black, president of the Longboat Key Republican Club.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 1, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota and Longboat Key republican clubs joint holiday party

On Dec. 2, the Sarasota and Longboat Key republican clubs held a joint holiday party at Marina Jack.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Carolyn Mason respresents District 1; Alan Maio, who was elected in November, represents District 4.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 1, 2014
County commissioners choose 2015 chair

The Sarasota County Commission unanimously chose Commissioners Carolyn Mason and Alan Maio for chair and vice chair, respectively, at the board retreat today.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The company that maintains the Longboat Pass Bridge says the town’s contractor damaged the structure during an ongoing project to replace one of two drinking water pipes for the Manatee County side of the Key.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 1, 2014
Contractor seeks more than $750,000 for bridge repairs

A maintenance company alleges the town's contractor caused damages to the Longboat Pass Bridge in October.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Officers with the Sarasota Police Department Narcotics Unit raided Snack’s Grocery in Newtown earlier this year, during which they discovered a gun and 395 packages of “spice.”
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 1, 2014
VIDEO: Designer drug raids continue in Sarasota

The Sarasota Police Department has conducted four search warrants on grocery stores and gas stations since June, with the latest operation at King's Meat Market yielding 12 packages of illegal 'spice,' $1,860 in cash and a 12-gauge shotgun.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 1, 2014
Local restaurants receive coveted Golden Spoon award

Florida Trend magazine has recognized six restaurants in Sarasota and three eateries on Longboat Key for their excellence in food and service with the coveted Golden Spoon award.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
The Heritage Harbour South CDD will replace former Chairwoman Joyce Sandy at its meeting today.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 1, 2014
Heritage Harbour CDD makes way for new chairperson

At its meeting at 4 p.m. Dec. 2, supervisors of the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District will elect a new chairperson.

  • East County
  • News
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and Siesta Key Association received some complaints about VIP parking at Crystal Classic.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 1, 2014
SKVA reports Siesta events successful

Siesta Key Village Association board members said that the crowd at this year's at Light Up the Village Parade was the biggest yet.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 1, 2014
MCAT to launch north Manatee route Monday

A new MCAT route will connect north Manatee County residents with Palmetto shopping centers, starting Monday, Dec. 8.

  • East County
  • News
Lift Station 87 plans include a two-story building at 1900 Mound St., a stark design from the underground proposal favored at the beginning of the year.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 1, 2014
City approves Lift Station 87 plans

After months of revisions, the City Commission approved a site plan for Lift Station 87 on Monday. The city also approved new regulations on Sunday morning alcohol sales.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Benderson Development is requesting changes to its University Town Center development this week, which includes the recently opened Panera Bread and other outparcels.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 1, 2014
Planning board to consider UTC site changes

The Sarasota Planning Commission will review Wednesday plans to increase commercial and office space at Benderson's University Town Center development.

  • East County
  • News
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