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Your Observer

File photo The Hilton will stop accepting reservations after April 30.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 5, 2014
Neighbors pitch to Hilton guests

Longboat Key will have 102 fewer tourist units for 16 to 18 months when the Hilton shuts down, but other properties are ready to roll out the welcome mat during the resort's remodel.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 5, 2014
Accounting issues plague budget

The town seeks to eliminate outdated accounting practices and improve its revenue projections as it grapples with a projected $1.4 million budget deficit from last year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
ULI rendering of an imagined town center next to Publix on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Our view

The hedgehog strategy

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Speech sensation

Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg's story - one of courage, struggle and survival after being seriously injured during his last tour in Afghanistan - not only brought the room to a standing ovation Jan. 28 at the White House during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, but it earned a standing ovation at home, as well.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Prime time teens

East County teenagers took the spotlight Saturday, taking home two top-five finishes at the Miss Teen Tampa Pageant.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Capt. Lorenzo Waiters, like all sheriff's office captains, drives an unmarked vehicle, which still has sirens. Photo by Josh Siegel.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 5, 2014
Manatee Sheriff's Office captain takes us for a ride

Capt. Lorenzo Waiters, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office captain who oversees Lakewood Ranch, says things have returned to normal after the department increased patrols to combat burglaries this fall.

  • East County
  • News
Paul Blackketter, a project manager for Benderson Development, says he is on "executive loan" from his company.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 5, 2014
Rowing park peddles plan

Needing $22 million to build facilities, the nonprofit behind Nathan Benderson Park seeks local governments' approval.

  • East County
  • News
Josh Siegel Sharon and RJ Dominic and Louie and Anita Podolinsky, neighbors and friends, have united to try to recoup costs related to a mold outbreak in their River Strand condos.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 5, 2014
Condo owners complain of mold

Two neighboring couples and residents in River Strand's Verandas say their air-conditioning units caused $80,000 worth of damage.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
News Briefs

Manatee County adopts new logo; Amendments to appear on November ballot; Lennar unveils model homes in Bridgewater community

  • East County
  • News
Josh Siegel Crews continue to work overnight to resurface and widen State Road 64, with construction extending from the Carlton Arms apartment community to Interstate 75.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • February 5, 2014
State Road 64 project overdue, over budget

FDOT will finish a project to expand State Road 64 by the end of March.

  • East County
  • News
USF Sarasota-Manatee instructor Garry Colpitts demonstrates a cooking technique before assigning the students soups to prepare.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 5, 2014
New facility cooks up culinary lessons

A Culinary Innovation Lab serves as the new hub for the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee's hospitality students.

  • East County
  • News
Pam Eubanks Aaron Sherrell, campus pastor for Woodland Parrish, says the time he spent helping start a church in Las Vegas will help him lead Woodland — The Community Church's new campus.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 5, 2014
Woodland launches new Parrish campus

The East County church already has held family events in the Parrish community for three years.

  • East County
  • News
Amanda Sebastiano Janet Rantis, Chris Bagoulados, Paree Gardner, Voula Karagan, Tina Maravegias and Chamaidi Belanger take a minute away from their cookie craze.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 5, 2014
Annual festival returns for 30th year

Authentic Greek food, entertainment and cultural celebration returns to East County.

  • East County
  • News
Amanda Sebastiano YouTube star Bethany Mota speaks to Braden River Middle students about bullying, fashion and what's next for her fashion line.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 5, 2014
Social-media star visits local middle school

YouTube personality and fashion designer Bethany Mota, 18, encourages East County students to just be themselves.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Chinese exchange students Jeffrey Qiu, Cheyenne Zhang, Liz Zhuo, Frank Liao and Tina Shibano visited students at the academy's lower school. They are pictured with Claire Maag, Luca Marino and Johnny Robinson, front row.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 5, 2014
Chinese students glean lessons from visit

Five teenagers from Beijing contrast the teaching style at ODA with schools back home.

  • East County
  • Schools
Arsenault
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Freedom Riders return

Students at The Out-of-Door Academy earned a special historical treat Jan. 29, when they heard from Dr. Ray Arsenault, author of 'Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice.'

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Coins for classrooms

McNeal Elementary School's winter carnival event Jan. 25 not only brought smiles to the faces of East County children and their families, but it also helped raise money for classrooms.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
$11,000 for teachers who participated in the event.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Elephant ears

The Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary has added a big act to its Animal Extravaganza this month.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Fran Spring and Shari Paler, University on Wheels co-chairwomen, speaker Stephen McCauley and Shelly Youngelman, BNC chapter president
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Author Intro

Brandeis University professor and best-selling novelist Stephen McCauley spoke to Brandeis National Committee members from Sarasota and Manatee counties Jan. 12, during a brunch held at the Prestancia Country Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Don Champion, the Rev. Gregg Ellery, the Rev. Craig King and the Rev. Mark Childers (back row) and Valerie Ellery and Marsha Champion (front row) switched newspapers with taxi driver Ali (front row, center) near Johannesburg, South Africa.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 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
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 5, 2014
Sochi Bound

Ellenton skaters Nathan Bartholomay and Felicia Zhang held hands for the first time in May 2011.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Lakewood Ranch High team celebrates following its victory over Seminole in the Class 4A-Region 3 finals.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 5, 2014
Back-to-back champs

The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team will face Melbourne in the FHSAA Final Four for the second-consecutive season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jen Blanco Lakewood Ranch sophomore midfielder Felipe Dangond battles a Fort Myers defender for possession in the first half.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 5, 2014
Mustang Magic

With players 100% healthy, the Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team is peaking at the right time.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kelsey Grau The seawall in the Gulf at 6541 Gulfside Road won't be torn down after commissioners decided not to purchase the property.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 5, 2014
Commission won't pursue Gulf-front property

The majority of commissioners decided that purchasing a home on the beach wasn't a good use of taxpayer dollars.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Carlos Manuel Reyes-Sanchez
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 5, 2014
Key Club trainer arrested for first-degree murder

Carlos Manuel Reyes-Sanchez, 30, was arrested without incident last week at the resort's fitness center.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
These wetlands were once covered with 6 inches of Australian pine needles. Newly planted spartina grass helped mangroves to grow that today are alive with fiddler crabs, minnows, crustaceans and sea birds that feed on the rich fauna.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 5, 2014
Audio tour spotlights protected Sister Keys

Sister Keys is home to gopher tortoises and gumbo limbo - but no golf courses - and your cellphone can help you find out why.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 5, 2014
Police: Two jewelry thefts don't appear to be related

Both incidents occurred Jan. 28, within approximately 1.25 miles - but police say the similarities end there.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 5, 2014
Aria condos attract those looking for new inventory

Ten of 16 available units were reserved during the first week the project began taking deposits from buyers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Aria rendering
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Letters to the Editor

Send in your Letters to the Editor to City Editor Robin Hartill at [email protected]. Editor reserves the right to edit letters based on space. Letters pertaining to local matters receive precedence.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • February 5, 2014
Kiwanis Club cashes in with Vegas theme

This year's Valentine's Ball allows participants to win prizes and children to receive scholarship money.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy photos Commissioner Phill Younger performs at a cabaret show.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Younger: Think you 'cancan' dance?

In the 1980s, Commissioner Phill Younger and his wife, Fanny, spotted a cabaret restaurant while roaming the foothills of Nice, France, with a memorable moniker: Chez Fanny. They vowed to return.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Submitted by Julie Becker Casa Del Mar Beach Resort. Unit owners enjoyed a Jan. 20 trip to the Sarasota Kennel Club to watch greyhound racing. The excursion is an annual tradition for owners at the resort.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
You Observed

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

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Manfred Welfonder, Bernie Ditchik, Mike Tighe and Marty Hauselman
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Bernie Ditchik courts 90th birthday

Longboat Key resident Bernie Ditchik celebrated his 90th birthday Jan. 28 on the tennis courts of the Players Club with friends Manfred Welfonder, Mike Tighe and Marty Hauselman.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 5, 2014
Obituary: William Robert Jones

William Robert Jones, 82, of Irvington, N.Y., and Longboat Key, died Jan. 27.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

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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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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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For the final Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season, Randy Bordon and Bri Rivera of the Bri Rivera Band perform for the crowd.
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