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Your Observer

Judy Graham, Mote trustee, with John and Deborah Dart. Courtesy
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
Mote VIPs enjoy first look at 'Survivors'

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's new limited-time exhibit, 'Survivors: Beautiful and Extreme Adaptations,' features special guests from the animal kingdom such as the peacock mantis shrimp, blue-ringed octopus and the Vietnamese mossy frog.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 12, 2014
New mall shops for Circle merchants

St. Armands BID Chairman Marty Rappaport said Benderson officials are willing to buy Circle merchants out of their leases if they commit to moving to the Mall at University Town Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kurt Schultheis Longbeach condominiums is considering extending its seawall to protect the Periwinkle building. Gulf water is eroding the property near that building at high tide.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 12, 2014
Town focuses on two sand structures

The town can't build a groin on Beer Can Island - and that's fine by town officials, who never wanted to build a third sand-holding structure in Longboat Pass.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kurt Schultheis A sign appeared over the weekend in Whitney Beach Plaza announcing a new liquor store.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 12, 2014
Liquor store on tap for Whitney Beach

North end residents could get a liquor store within 60 to 90 days, leaving just one question: What about the bar?

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Photo courtesy of Ocean Properties The Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel will be renamed the Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 12, 2014
Key Club owners buy Helmsley Sandcastle

The 177-unit hotel was once owned by a dog - but now is owned by the owners of the Resort at Longboat Key Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 12, 2014
ULI final report draft still needs modifications

An Urban Land Institute report draft received Tuesday afternoon still seeks input from staff and commissioners.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 12, 2014
Cumming sheds light on common scams

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming's top tips for avoiding fraudsters: Trust your gut and report suspicious activity.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
David Conway A parking lot on North Adams Drive is one possible site for a parking structure on St. Armands, but residents are concerned about the design elements of any garage.
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 12, 2014
Study names potential St. Armands garage sites

Although businesses on St. Armands Circle say they need additional parking badly, nearby residents worry about how the garage will affect the surrounding homes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Walter Williams
  • February 12, 2014
Our view

America's poverty is poverty of the spirit

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 12, 2014
Our view

The lost will to work

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
Letters to the Editor

To send in your Letters to the Editor, email them to News Editor Robin Hartill at [email protected]. Letters pertaining to local issues receive priority. Letters may be edited for grammar and space.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 12, 2014
Tour showcases varying styles of Longboat Key

Four homes and one garden will be open to the public at the 38th annual Longboat Key Garden Club Home Tour.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
Obituary: Howard Swartz

Howard Swartz, 86, of Longboat Key and New City, N.Y., died Feb. 9.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
Obituary: Barbara Jean Swartz

Barbara Jean Swartz, 82, of Longboat Key, died Feb. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kelsey Grau Local athlete Ralph Maxwell has his sights set on gold.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • February 12, 2014
Your Neighbor | Ralph Maxwell

Ralph Maxwell recently returned from the Florida International Senior Games and State Championships, where he earned medals in all his events and set three new records in the 50-meter sprint, triple jump and 800-meter run.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
...
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
You Observed

Here's a roundup of reader-submitted photos from events around the Key. To submit photos for this weekly feature, email Kelsey Grau at [email protected].

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lori Sax Ken Hughes founded Bradenton-based CNK Realty last year. The commercial real estate firm focuses exclusively on medical and health care properties.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 12, 2014
Medical Moves

A boom has percolated in medical and health care commercial real estate. Brokers hope it lasts awhile.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Photo courtesy of Albert Balk The demolition was completed to prepare for the Aria project at 2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 12, 2014
Real Estate Reports

Benedict guest house demolished for Aria project; MSC Foundation awards 2013 grants at LWR office; Rogers Moore joins Coldwell Banker's Longboat Key office

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Photo courtesy of Brooke O’Malley This home at 510 Harbor Pointe Road has five bedrooms, seven baths, a pool and 4,533 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,425,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 12, 2014
Five-bedroom Bay Isles home sells for $2,425,000

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

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Ed Kolodzieski snapped this sunset photo, taken from his catamaran, Enchanted.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
Weather: Longboat Key

Ed Kolodzieski snapped this sunset photo, taken from his catamaran, Enchanted.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Josh Siegel Sweetbay's closure led the remaining businesses in Ranch Lake Plaza to increase marketing efforts.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 12, 2014
Sweetbay closure hurts neighboring businesses

One year after the Sweetbay Supermarket in Ranch Lake Plaza closed, the space remains vacant. No leases have been signed for the space.

  • East County
  • News
Rodney Crosbey smiles after trying to score.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 12, 2014
Cowboys, polo players 'stirrup' rivalry

NBC's 'Today Show' filmed this year's annual SMR Cup event.

  • East County
  • News
Amanda Sebastiano After sending two vans and an SUV to Napier's Farm and Animal Rescue to pick up animals, volunteers bathed and treated the animals for fleas.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 12, 2014
Rescues shelter animals after raid

Authorities confiscated more than 300 animals from Napier's Log Cabin Horse and Animal Sanctuary Feb. 5, with 75 of them taken to Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 12, 2014
Plans for property south of Walmart take shape

Forest Properties, a Boston-based developer, wants to package 150 acres of its land into a mixed-use project for the community.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
News Briefs

Mills meets with FDOE commissioner; Organizers release Winterfest lineup; County offices close on Presidents Day

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 12, 2014
Heritage Harbour HOA, CDD try to work together

Next month, group representatives will meet 30 minutes before the regular Heritage Harbour South CDD meeting.

  • East County
  • News
Josh Siegel Albert Myara and Bob Bender say they love the Lakewood Ranch community and are excited to partner together in owning Ed's Tavern on Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 12, 2014
New owners assume helm at Ed's Tavern

Founding owner John Breiner sold the Lakewood Ranch Main Street staple to Albert Myara and Bob Bender, who vow to maintain the restaurant's Jersey-inspired appeal.

  • East County
  • News
Josh Siegel Crews complete site work Feb. 10 on nine acres at 59th Street and Honore Avenue, in Sarasota County.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 12, 2014
Vertical construction starts on Muirfield Village

Developers will build 60 town homes on nine acres.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 12, 2014
Parishioners prepare for annual festival

Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church will host its second church festival this weekend.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 12, 2014
Teenagers create generation-building events

East County students' Future Problem Solving Program project unites generations through the use of technology.

  • East County
  • News
Courtesy photo The Florida Department of Transportation changed the curve of this sidewalk to save a tree, pictured here.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 12, 2014
Contractors start work on gravity wall project

Despite the collapse of sections of I-75 Jan. 27, workers remain on schedule with a sidewalk improvement project on the north side of University Parkway and I-75.

  • East County
  • News
Adam Hoynacki celebrates receiving his white coat with daughter, Amelia, and wife, Sidney.
  • By Michael Polin
  • February 12, 2014
Students earn white coats

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton campus held white coat ceremonies Feb. 8 for 136 pharmacy students and 192 medical students at Harvest United Methodist Church.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
GOOD NEWS. Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club residents Fran and Thom Mastrelli brought their East County Observer along on their recent tour through South Africa. They caught up on their news at the Cape of Good Hope near Capetown.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 12, 2014
It's Read Everywhere

Headed on a great vacation? Make sure to take your Observer along! Visit YourObserver.com and click on the 'Contests' tab in the upper-right hand corner to submit your entries. We can't wait to see where The Observer will travel next!

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch midfielder Maria Miller attempts to maintain possession for the Lady Mustangs.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 12, 2014
Legacy fulfilled

The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team finished the season 24-1-1, posting new program records for the most wins and shutouts in a season.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Cardinal Mooney High boys basketball team
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 12, 2014
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • East County
  • Sports
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