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Your Observer

Julia DeCastro now works on the specialty leasing team at The Mall at University Town Center. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • June 18, 2014
University Town Center welcomes new employee

After leasing Lakewood Ranch Main Street 100%, Julia DeCastro turns her focus to finding niche, short-term leases at the new mall.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 18, 2014
Phased Key Club project in the works

Ocean Properties officials are working with town staff on hurdles in the town's code that are preventing them from submitting a site-plan application.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Stairs on John Saputo's dock are disappearing as sand collecting near his property washes over them.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 18, 2014
Lighthouse Point sees sand surplus

Some residents argue the town should cancel a $4 million south end erosion project and take the extra sand sitting behind their homes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota and Manatee County property appraisers' offices estimate that Key-wide property values rose 5.4% in the past year. Photo by Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 18, 2014
Commission considers millage increase

Commissioners originally sought a flat millage but agreed to consider a tax rate hike to cover rising pension costs and achieve the town's 90-day operating target.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 18, 2014
Ocean Properties makes highest bid for Colony estate

Ocean Properties Ltd. put in an offer at 3:59 p.m. Tuesday — one minute before bids were set to close for the bankrupt Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Partnership estate — and had the winning bid at $2.45 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2014
News Briefs

Power pole debate goes dark again; Deletion of towers in ordinance passes first test; Two firefighters complete their paramedic training

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 18, 2014
County dispatch services remain on hold

Commissioners need information about the level of service Sarasota County can provide before they decide the future of the town's emergency dispatch services.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2014
Our View

How to divvy the tourist tax

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 18, 2014
Developers vie for piece of Colony puzzle Thursday

The sale is scheduled to continue this week after U.S. Bankruptcy Judge K. Rodney May denied a motion from Colony Lender LLC to delay the sale.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Juan Florensa's department is responsible for wastewater services, the Key’s beach and maintenance. Photo by Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 18, 2014
Florensa shines spotlight on Public Works duties

When you woke up this morning, you probably turned on your faucet and shower and flushed your toilet. The water was almost certainly safe to drink, voluminous enough for a shower and went down the drain without any troubles, thanks to the work the town's Public Works Department does every day.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • June 18, 2014
Fitness industry sharpens focus on seniors

It is time again to share news items and research from fitness trade publications.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
File photo Sara Green, 6, and her sister, Izzy, 8, celebrate in patriotic attire at last year's Freedom Fest.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 18, 2014
Freedom Fest is always short in distance, heavy on charm

Longboat Key Freedom Fest parade participants march just a quarter-mile around Bay Isles Road, but the parade goes the distance on charm. In fact, the Fourth of July parade is often described as the shortest, most charming parade in America.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 18, 2014
Budget constraints affect East County

A proposed 5% spending increase in the Manatee County Sheriff's Office can't compete with growth occurring out east.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey is ready to get back to work after receiving a contract extension and bonus. Photo by Kurt Schultheis
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 18, 2014
Rey earns bonus, extended contract

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey received unanimous support, a three-year contract extension and a $5,000 bonus June 12.

  • East County
  • News
This FDOT rendering shows the eight-lane divided future Interstate 75, which will feature 10-foot-wide shoulders and 12-foot-wide lanes.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 18, 2014
Public meeting on I-75 planned

The Florida Department of Transportation seeks public input as it moves forward with plans to widen Interstate 75 and reconfigure the interstate's intersection with University Parkway.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • June 18, 2014
Rosedale promotes summer music series

It's no secret - Chuck Nehls loves opera music.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 18, 2014
All Faiths, Big Cat roar for support

The Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary and Bonfire Jam Band have partnered for a fundraiser benefiting All Faiths Food Bank's Campaign Against Summer Hunger, an effort to feed more than 2,000 children in Sarasota this summer.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2014
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Jonathon "J.E." Allen and Bailey Brawner are interning at Harvest United Methodist Church until August. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • June 18, 2014
Interns spend summer at East County church

Rather than spending their summer break in their hometowns with their friends, two 21-year-old college students chose to spend it studying in Florida.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High graduate Payton Diss spent three years cheering for the Pirates. Now she'll take her talents to Western Kentucky University. Photo by Jen Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 18, 2014
Competitive Edge

Braden River High alumna Payton Diss will cheer for Western Kentucky University this fall.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtesy photo Bradenton native and former Southeast High quarterback Adrian McPherson founded The McPherson Athletic Compound to help area athletes achieve their goals.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 18, 2014
Training Day

Former Southeast High quarterback Adrian McPherson will host a seven-week summer training program.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • June 18, 2014
Sidelines

Manatee Cal Ripken 9U All-Stars; ODA wins sportsmanship award

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2014
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
This home at 662 Mourning Dove Drive has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,452 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.25 million. Photo by Kelsey Grau
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 18, 2014
Bird Key home sells for $1.25 million

A home on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Ivonne Padilla and her daughters, Karina and Brithney, explored Selby Gardens for the first time Saturday, after receiving a free yearlong membership. Padilla looks forward to introducing her daughters to the beauty of nature.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • June 18, 2014
The Good News: Ivonne Padilla

Through a partnership with Girls Inc., Selby Gardens has awarded 20 families yearlong memberships to help instill a lifelong love of the outdoors in children.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
636 Beach Road, Siesta Key
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • June 18, 2014
Staycation Living on Siesta Key

Within walking distance of both the Siesta Key Public Beach and Siesta Key Village, the beachfront home located at 636 Beach Road on almost two acres of land overlooking the Gulf of Mexico is a great place to live to feel as though you're on vacation.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Wilson
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • June 18, 2014
Business Briefs

Euphemia Haye creates Haye Loft menu fit for a queen; Key Club Moorings receives Clean Marina designation; Past Advanced Diver magazine editor joins Cannons Marina; St. Armands wins TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key resident John Pan submitted this sunrise photo, taken overlooking Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2014
Weather: Longboat Key

Longboat Key resident John Pan submitted this sunrise photo, taken overlooking Sarasota Bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
This home on Farington Court in The Concession has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,560 square feet of living space. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • June 18, 2014
Concession home sells for $1.6 million

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

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Jaide Brown
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • June 18, 2014
Kiddie Academy children play at Camp Adventure

Children seeking adventure are touring East County and Tampa Bay for the next two months.

  • East County
  • Schools
Dianna Staab submitted this sunrise photo, taken from her lanai in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 18, 2014
Weather: East County

Dianna Staab submitted this sunrise photo, taken from her lanai in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Antennas can't be placed any higher than 15-feet on the highest point of an existing structure.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • June 17, 2014
Telecommunications ordinance approved on first reading

The commission stated on the record in November that it doesn't want a tower built on the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
All lanes open on southbound I-75, after temporary closures at mildm raker 215, due to dump truck spillage on the roadway.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • June 17, 2014
UPDATE: All lanes open on southbound I-75

All lanes open on southbound I-75, after temporary closures at mildm raker 215, due to dump truck spillage on the roadway.

  • East County
  • News
Visitors wont have to suffer for long, considering that this rare plant will only bloom for four or five days.
  • By Maddy Del Medico
  • June 17, 2014
'Corpse Plants' to bloom at Selby Gardens

This week, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' "Corpse Plant" Seymour and "kid sister Audrey" will bloom for the first time in 15 years. The "Corpse Plant" emits an odor that holds true to its name, smelling like rotting flesh.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Local authorities found drugs, $525 in cash and a .38 caliber revolver at the home of 26-year-old Jeremy Cray while executing a search warrant Wednesday.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • June 17, 2014
Police release details of drug bust

Sarasota Police seized more than 35 grams of cocaine and a firearm from a home on the 1400 block of 19th Street during a search last week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Drivers will see delays near mile marker 215 on southbound I-75
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • June 17, 2014
Emergency lane closures on I-75 southbound

According to Florida Dept. of Transportation, Interstate 75 southbound at mile marker 215 has emergency lane closures, after a dump truck spilled 'muck' on the roadway this morning. One lane has been reopened, and the emergency lane is open to re-route traffic.

  • East County
  • News
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