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Your Observer

    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
Photo by Kelsey Grau
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • April 2, 2014
Your Neighbor: Joe Zampino

The greenery and blooming flowers in Joe Zampino's back yard rival even the best Florida gardens.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Obituary: Robert Lowell McNulty

Robert Lowell McNulty, 86, of Plymouth Harbor and formerly of Longboat Key, died March 22.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 2, 2014
Letters to the Editor

ULI report assessment lays a costly egg; Lord's Warehouse fashion show chairs give kudos; Suggestions to improve Bradenton Beach traffic; Winding Oaks board supported maintenance

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2014
Voter turnout lower than in past elections

Voter turnout in the town's March 25 general municipal election was the lowest of any year that featured a Longboat Key Town Commission race in five years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 2, 2014
Key resident seeks to trim Australian pine requirements

Tom Churchill believes the town should reassess an ordinance that requires the removal of non-native plant species before developing or redeveloping properties.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 2, 2014
Workshop outlines ODP and code fix work and timeline

A consultant starts the process to address 'confusing and controversial' regulations in the town code that impact a potential Key Club project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kelsey Grau Gene Sweeney, Bonnie Chisling and Russ Carthy with Chisling's sculpture, "Tribute to the Everyday Soldier."
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • April 2, 2014
Local artists pay tribute to the everyday soldier

Bonnie Chisling's sculpture 'Tribute to the Everyday Soldier" was featured in the recent Community Juried Exhibition at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art & Design.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

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Lakewood Ranch's Cole Mule and Bodie Hogan, both 3 years old, explore the bee-themed magnet activity.
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A Longboat Key police officer measures the speed of vehicles traveling on Gulf of Mexico Drive. Traffic enforcement in gated communities require a memorandum of understanding with the Homeowners Association, said Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager.
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Speeding enforcement in gated communities requires HOA permission
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A car carrier operator unloads a Corvette on Bay Isles Road, the town of Longboat Key’s designated dropoff and pickup area for car carriers.
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