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Your Observer

Mark Wemple. Manatee County Schools Superintendent Rick Mills believes changes in process, among other measures, will fix the district's budget woes.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Manatee School District budget

Superintendent Rick Mills hopes a competent team, stronger controls and community support help the district right its budget.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Sports Tourism

On its journey to become an international sports haven, the Sarasota-Bradenton area has completed the most difficult steps - the first two. Now, it's game time.

  • East County
  • News
Tasked with charting growth for Manatee County, John Osborne, an East County resident who developed the How Will We Grow plan over two years, believes opportunity for efficiencies should drive growth.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: How we will grow

Manatee County leaders are setting a new vision for growth.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Real estate

Realtors say they expect fewer investors to snatch homes off the market in the coming year, which will leave more inventory available from which primary homebuyers can choose.

  • East County
  • News
Josh Siegel. Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker views a fast-depleting indigent-care trust fund as a potential health care industry problem that extends beyond the people who benefit from the county’s assistance.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Indigent care

Manatee County officials and local health care professionals agree there is no easy solution as they brace for a potential health care crisis.

  • East County
  • News
Josh Siegel. After her mother's death, Ellen Gerth, with her husband, Dave, left, continues to run marathons and continues with her career, despite the fact that closure may never come.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 8, 2014
Lakewood Ranch murder remains unsolved

Two years after Ina Gross was murdered, her daughter says she still believes the Manatee County Sheriff's Office will arrest the killer.

  • East County
  • News
Courtesy photo. Brittany Wenger is a college student who plays Quidditch by day and is an obsessive cancer diagnostician by night.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 8, 2014
World changer

Time magazine recently included Brittany Wenger, an Out-of-Door Academy graduate and Duke freshman, on its '30 People Under 30 Changing the World' list.

  • East County
  • News
New Stoneybrook homeowners association members Tom Bakalar and Dick Williams (and Williams' wife, Barb) came together for coffee Dec. 17 in anticipation of the Jan. 2 turnover date and election.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • January 8, 2014
Stoneybrook names its new board of residents

Members of the new nine-person board of residents all identify with the 'Pro-Stoneybrook Team.'

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2014
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Jen Blanco Lakewood Ranch High senior Emily Bulfin has aspirations of scoring 1,000 points in her career and breaking her school record of nine 3-pointers in a game before the end of the season.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 8, 2014
Sharp shooter

Lakewood Ranch High senior Emily Bulfin is on pace to break the 1,000-point mark for her career before the end of the season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtney Mirabella
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 8, 2014
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 8, 2014
Olympic swimmers hope to inspire young athletes

The Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners will host the Fitter & Faster Swim Tour, featuring Olympians Davis Tarwater and Claire Donahue, later this month.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 8, 2014
Sidelines

LRLL registration upcoming; TOPSoccer to kick off winter season; GSJGA season tees off

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 8, 2014
Just the stats

The week in sports by the numbers.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 8, 2014
Regent wins first match of 2014

East County residents welcomed the start of the new year during the Kitchner & Pierro/iBusinessSolutions Cup Jan. 5.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtesy rendering. Town Manager Dave Bullock commissioned Sarasota architect Gary Hoyt to draw up renderings for town center concepts around the Longboat Key Publix.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: ULI time for change

An Urban Land Institute panel urged residents to work together to plan for the future.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
File photos. Town Manager Dave Bullock told commissioners last month he is "trying to find a logical way to deal with a multitude of issues this collapsing development gives us."
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Colony conundrum

A bankruptcy judge is expected to rule on a Colony Beach & Tennis Resort settlement Jan. 27.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
File photo. The Cortez Bridge connects mainland Manatee County to Bradenton Beach.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Cortez Bridge

The new year won't bring a new Cortez Bridge, but it will bring traffic delays that come with a $4 million repair project that's scheduled to begin April 28 and be completed in early 2015.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
File photo. Tropical Storm Andrea caused flooding problems in June in neighborhoods like Longbeach Village and Sleepy Lagoon. Rising flood insurance premiums have Longboat Key residents concerned.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Insurance costs

Key residents such as Mayor Jim Brown worry that rising insurance costs will force residents seeking affordable insurance to leave the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: The final bill

This month, the last of the town's three pension plans will freeze.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Commissioner Terry Gans
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Election watch

The Longboat Key Town Commission will have at least one new face following the town's March 25 general municipal election.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2014
Our view

Realities of a town center

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
File photo. The Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort will close after the season for an 18-month revitalization project.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Checkout time

The Hilton project is the first to ask for additional tourism units.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to watch 2014: Beach project

Times, they are a changing. And that goes for the town's beach-management plan and how Longboat Key's coastline will be maintained moving forward.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Circle retail

For Marty Rappaport and the St. Armands Business Improvement District, 2014 could be the year a growing problem is finally addressed: restaurants.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 8, 2014
Issues to Watch 2014: Cell towers

The Town Commission will review ordinance language this year that states the town is not interested in cellular towers as a reception fix.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 8, 2014
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 8, 2014
Commission approves Hilton Beachfront Resort project

The Longboat Key Hilton will undergo a $30 million expansion and renovation project that will begin after the season and open in 2015.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 8, 2014
Colony vandalism cited for crime hike

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming released crime statistics for 2013 revealing that vandalism and trespassing offenses are up 54% and 32% respectively compared with a year ago.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy photo. The six socialized feral kittens are available for adoption to loving owners who are willing to keep them indoors or in a caged lanai.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 8, 2014
Six rescued kittens seek loving homes

A Key couple socialized a litter of young felines that are now ready for adoption.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Observer Media Group Chairman David Beliles, center, with retired Longboat Observer Senior Editor Dora Walters and retired Senior Advertising Executive Wendi Simons
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 8, 2014
Friends, family honor Claire Hunter at service

More than 75 people attended a memorial service and witness to the resurrection for longtime Longboat Observer co-owner Claire Hunter, who died Dec. 15. She was 84.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lexi, formerly named Jasmine, is named after Gene Witt Elementary fifth-grader and Honor Animal Rescue volunteer Lexi Brown, who was murdered.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 8, 2014
Paws for celebration

Honor Animal Rescue adopted out 1,000 animals in 2013, thanks to the DePew family's December adoption of Lexi, a 2-year-old collie mix.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amanda Sebastiano. University Park resident Sandy Chase co-authored a story about the difficulties of keeping New Year's resolutions — "The Resolutionary War."
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 8, 2014
Resolution revolution

Two women join forces for their recently released book to fight the war on New Year's resolutions.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amanda Sebastiano. This Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch home, which has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,841 square feet of living area, sold for $799,400.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 8, 2014
Country Club East home sells for $799,400

Taylor Morrison of Florida Inc. sold the home at 7315 Haddington Cove to Kamal and Patricia Sarbadhikari, of Longboat Key, for $799,400.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Amanda Sebastiano. Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch home, which has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,861 square feet of living area, sold for $850,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 8, 2014
Country Club Village home sells for $850,000

Alvaro Joves and Maria Maldonado, of Miami, sold their home at 7217 Greystone St. to Robert Hofmann, of Bradenton, for $850,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Beruff
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 8, 2014
Builder sets company record in home sales

Sales totaling $100 million in 2013 keeps local builder Medallion Home optimistic about the future of the company.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
Jeremy Gandon tees off on the first hole of the Commander Course at Lakewood National Golf Club. The 29-year-old Frenchman carded six under par in the third round.
  • April 4, 2026
Race tightens in third round of 2026 LECOM Suncoast Classic
2
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President Danielle Gladding welcomes guest speaker Longboat Police Chief Russ Mager to update members about his approach to leadership since he assumed the role last autumn at the April 2 meeting.
  • April 4, 2026
Longboat police chief talks digital security with Kiwanians
3
Lakewood Ranch's Jerry and Marilyn Schneider, who have been married for 63 years, enjoy the live music at Music on Main April 3.
  • April 4, 2026
Dancers show off their moves at Music on Main in Lakewood Ranch
4
St. Regis at Longboat Key is a gulf-facing resort and condo development on the barrier island of Longboat Key. The Unicorp-developed property opened in 2024 at the former site of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.
  • April 4, 2026
St. Regis on track to receive permanent certificate of occupancy, eyes tennis courts
5
The Fruitville Townhomes site plan to replace the vacant former Sarasota Lanes bowling center.
  • April 4, 2026
Fruitville bowling alley submits plans to redevelop into 4-story townhomes

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