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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Love letter makes comeback

East County resident Kelly Pleasant was running along Lakewood Ranch Boulevard last week when she came across something special - a love letter dated May 14, 1992.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Feline named for Observer

The animals seized Feb. 5 from Napiers Log Cabin Horse and Animal Sanctuary are available for adoption and they're finding new homes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 2, 2014
Community Legacy

Mary Fran Carroll, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's original president and CEO, died March 24.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • April 2, 2014
Fruitville plan aims to avoid neighbor's problems

A plan for 420 acres around Fruitville Road east of I-75 focuses on staying ahead of development.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 2, 2014
Our view

Legacy of Mary Fran Carroll

  • East County
  • Opinion
Andy Eubanks University Parkway does not have streetlights between the entrance to University Park and Honore Avenue.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • April 2, 2014
MPO inquires about lighting along University

The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization will explore its options to secure state funding for additional streetlights along University Parkway.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
News Briefs

Myakka City Fire District adds engine; Manatee County prepares to open Neal Preserve

  • East County
  • News
Amanda Sebastiano The 100 LECOM students in the school's group practice use technology found in regular dentist offices.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • April 2, 2014
LECOM opens group practice to community

The new clinic offers dental students the chance to treat real patients.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Letters to the Editor

I-75 traffic affects all of East County; Fort Hamer bridge idea should be axed

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Special-needs prom seeks volunteers for annual event

Night with the Stars, a prom for special-needs individuals ages 16 and older, is in need of volunteers for its April 25 prom event at Woodland The Community Church.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Pottery-glazing studio celebrates anniversary

Arts A Blaze, a paint-your-own-pottery shop on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, celebrates its fifth anniversary April 3.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Elks Lodge 2855 donates $1,500 to MOTS

The veterans committee of the Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge 2855 donated $1,500 March 20 to Manatee Operation Troop Support, an organization that supports local troops that have been deployed.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo Thomas Naylor and Drew Snyder show off their volcano project.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
ODA students erupt with enthusiasm about project

Students at The Out-of-Door Academy learned a volcanic lesson last week in Pam Davis' science class.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
File photos Ashley Bongart passed up a chance to compete for her first Class 3A individual singles state championship to play in the Sarasota Open.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 2, 2014
Main draw

Ashley Bongart will take a swing at competing on a higher level at the Sarasota Open. Good thing hard-fought matches serve as motivation for the high school junior.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 2, 2014
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Final ULI report is a gem for town

APRIL FOOLS' - The town got what it paid for with the $125,000 Urban Land Institute report.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Swanson puts swan family in the spotlight

APRIL FOOLS - Members of the Longboat Key swan family are finalists in a nationwide contest sponsored by Swanson to appear on the company's frozen dinner boxes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Justin Bieber prefers to keep a low profile wherever he goes, but police believe that his leopard-print Audi R8 and washboard abs will make him easy to spot on Longboat Key. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • April 2, 2014
Justin Bieber's new baby: Ohana estate

APRIL FOOLS' - There's gonna be one less empty house on Longboat Key, following a universally acclaimed musician's purchase of the blinged out $22 million Ohana estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
News Briefs

APRIL FOOLS' - You've got three minutes; Town hires therapist for board members; The EDC praises Colony as local job creator; Healthcare.gov architect to heal town website

  • Longboat Key
  • News
File photo A We Buy Gold Store was the first store to sign a letter of intent to sign a lease in the new town center.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2014
Publix to be demolished

APRIL FOOLS' - The Longboat Key Publix will close May 1 and reopen April 1, 2015, to create a new Main Street retail and grocery store pedestrian roundabout attraction.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2014
Mar Vista and Moore's to merge

APRIL FOOLS' - The longtime restaurateurs plan to merge Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub and Moore's Stonecrab Restaurant into a single 456-seat restaurant.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy photo Traffic jams and bridge openings on and near Longboat Key the past few weeks were not just seasonal traffic issues.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 2, 2014
Officials conspired to jam traffic

APRIL FOOLS' - The season's traffic woes began when a town official sent an email reading: 'Time for some traffic problems on Longboat Key.'

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 2, 2014
Marijuana clinic seeks to light up Longboat Key

APRIL FOOLS' - The Grass is Greener LLC has more than a budding interest in opening a Longboat office if a medical marijuana ballot initiative passes in November.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Photographer stuns with picture

Clayton Piantedosi, the photographer behind the (iPhone lens) could be one of our youngest sunset photo submitters ever at just 13 years old.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Birthday boy gets a dog day

Bentley Weber, second from left, celebrated his eighth birthday at his winter home on Longboat Key with owner Deb Weber and friends Brody, Buster and Scrappy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Town Hall doesn't trump the happiest place on earth

Commissioner Lynn Larson's three grandchildren, Zander, 9, Zora, 7, and Zoe Ramsey, 5, along with their mother, Lora Ramsey, attended Monday night's statutory meeting to watch their grandmother be sworn in for another two-year term.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Kiwanis Foundation to award four grants

The Longboat Key Kiwanis Foundation announced its second round of grants for the 2014 season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Christ Church of Longboat Key reaches Turning Point

Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian has a new mission: the Bradenton organization Turning Points, which aims to help men, women and children who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2014
Colony Association, MW Group work on developer agreement

Manfred Welfonder's company is expected to become the new Colony developer, more than seven years after the Longboat Key resident first pitched a plan for the property.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kurt Schultheis Mayor Jim Brown and Vice Mayor Jack Duncan congratulate each other after being nominated to serve new one-year mayoral and vice mayoral terms.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2014
Brown takes mayor's chair again

As Brown begins his last year in the mayor's seat, Jack Duncan takes on a new role as vice mayor.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kurt Schultheis David Brenner says he has "no regrets" about stepping down as a commissioner after two terms of service.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2014
Brenner leaves at the top of his game

David Brenner said he was proud to be part of a commission that shifted to take 'more of an activist approach' to combat issues such as pension debt and beach projects.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 2, 2014
Police arrest former condo employee for jewelry theft

Longtime Windward Bay maintenance supervisor Michael Artman was arrested last week for stealing an $85,000 diamond. Police suspect he committed a string of thefts.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 2, 2014
Letts plans to retire at the end of season

Letts has not decided on a retirement date but is working with community members to maintain medical services on the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
All Faiths board President John Nicholas, GCCF CEO/President Terri Hansen, All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank, GCCF Senior Vice President of Philanthropy Veronica Brady and All Faiths board member Keith Monda (Harriet Sokmensuer)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 2, 2014
All Faiths campaign targets summer hunger locally

The new 'Campaign Against Summer Hunger' aims to boost food bank donations at a time when need is highest among local children and their families.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Our view

Lower speed limit on GMD?

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
File photo A well-attended North End Coalition of Property Owners forum March 20 will lead to future meetings and could spur other community coalitions to form on the Key.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2014
Additional neighborhood coalitions could form

More than 125 people packed the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, two weeks ago to attend the first forum of the new North End Coalition of Property Owners.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
Staff at the 12th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem program sort through the delivery of presents for children up to 18 years of age.
  • December 22, 2025
Gift donations break record at Sarasota Sheriff's Office
2
Cindy Ritchell, Ann Quackenbush, Brenda Korthauer, Beverly Sutton and Kit Torchia all lend a helping hand in packing seeds to send internationally to farmers who need them. Quackenbush is a driving force behind Hope Seeds, a charitable ministry through Christ Church of Longboat Key.
  • December 22, 2025
Longboat's Hope Seeds nears 10 years of giving back
3
Andrew Carrillo poses for a photo on Dec. 16 at Out-of-Door Academy. He's been the go-to guy on attack for the Thunder throughout their 2025-26 season.
  • December 22, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Andrew Carrillo
4
Manatee County commissioners approve reducing speed limits throughout the county.
  • December 22, 2025
Speed limits reduced on nine roads in Manatee County
5
The library will be constructed on the light green area depicted on this map within Longboat Key's Town Center Green. The entire library would be around 11,230 square feet with the possible enhancements.
  • December 22, 2025
Buchanan's $1 million donation formally accepted for library

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