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Your Observer

Gurland
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • December 31, 2013
Your Neighbor: Regina Gurland

Regina Gurland has lived in Sleepy Lagoon since 1976.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
You Observed

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

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kurt Schultheis. This home at 620 Bowsprit Lane has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,918 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.3 million.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 31, 2013
Country Club Shores home sells for $4.3 million

Michele and Douglas McNeill, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 620 Bowsprit Lane to Coffeeville Ltd. for $4.3 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
ULI panelists made it clear that none of the recommendations can be implemented until the town and its residents agree to work together.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 31, 2013
Year in Review: October 2013, ULI: 'Key should embrace change'

The panel's report urges the town to create a walkable Town Center concept near Publix and scrap its codes and Comp Plan.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Fran Gott dresses as a bronze statue, called "the janitor," Oct. 25 for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities' annual Boo Fest event on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
Year in Pictures: October

Enjoy some of our picks for the best pictures from 2013.

  • East County
  • News
Ursula, played by Sabrina Gallien, complains to Jetsam (Melina Cuffaro) and Flotsam (Nicole Petersen) in Lakewood Ranch High School's "The Little Mermaid," which ran Nov.15 through Nov. 17.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
Year in Pictures: November

Enjoy some of our picks for the best pictures from 2013.

  • East County
  • News
Meghan Neu, Ryan Hitchcock, 3 months, and Danny Riordan play Mary, baby Jesus and Joseph at Living Lord Lutheran’s Church annual "Night in Bethlehem" event Dec. 7.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
Year in Pictures: December

Enjoy some of our picks for the best pictures from 2013.

  • East County
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team made history becoming the first public school in the state of Florida to win three state championships.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 31, 2013
Year in Sports: Top Teams of 2013

As another year comes to a close, we at the East County Observer, once again, celebrate your accomplishments with our Year in Sports 2013.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team celebrated its first district title since 2011 with an 11-3 victory over rival Cardinal Mooney in the Class 3A-District 10 championship April 26.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 31, 2013
2013: Year in Sports - Top Moments

As another year comes to a close, we at the East County Observer, once again, celebrate your accomplishments with our Year in Sports 2013.

  • East County
  • Sports
Janet Brooks, Serenoa
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
Setting the scene

The top weather photos of 2013.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
Cops Corner: Best of 2013

As we celebrate another year, we have compiled our favorite entries of 2013.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Pam Eubanks. This Greenbrook Village home, which has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,177 square feet of living area, sold for $570,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 31, 2013
Greenbrook Village home sells for $570,000

Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., trustee, sold the home at 15122 Sundial Place to Aaron Apostolico, of Bradenton, for $570,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Photo by Cliff Roles
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
Occasions: Anniversaries

To see your own wedding, engagement, anniversary and birth annoucements in the East County Observer, send your information to [email protected].

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Olivia Ione Carlson
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
Occasions: Births

To see your own wedding, engagement, anniversary and birth annoucements in the East County Observer, send your information to [email protected].

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Savanah Doyle, right
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 31, 2013
Occasions: Sweet 16: Savanah Doyle

To see your own wedding, engagement, anniversary and birth annoucements in the East County Observer, send your information to [email protected].

  • East County
  • Neighbors
David LaRusso, the general manager of the Linger Lodge restaurant, says all of the cabins are currently booked.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 31, 2013
Year in Review: October 2013, Linger Lodge for sale again

The owners of East County staple Linger Lodge & Campground have put the little piece of Old Florida up for sale. They cite a rebounding economy.

  • East County
  • News
"Growing up in the circus and traveling across America was very exciting, very interesting and informative," Gena Shvartsman Cristiani says. "It was also very normal to just get up and leave all the time."
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 31, 2013
Video Year in Review: October 2013, In the Center Ring Crafty Genes: Pallet Bed Frame

Gena Shvartsman Cristiani grew up in a juggling family as a prodigy juggling performer who continually traveled the nation. Just recently, she started calling Sarasota home.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Authorities locked down the Westfield Southgate Shopping Center yesterday following a suspicious incident. Today, the Sarasota Police Department revealed a man had been spreading his fiancee's ashes.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 31, 2013
Web Year in Review: October 2013, Man scattering fiancee's ashes caused mall shutdown

According to Sarasota Police Department Lt. Pat Ledwith, the man's fiancee died several months ago.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 31, 2013
Year in Review: October 2013, Garage delays frustrate developer

Pineapple Square developer John Simon believes delays at the State Street garage are not only a legal issue but could cause long-term damage downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ocean Properties Ltd. submitted a site-plan application and request for 85 additional tourism units in September at Town Hall
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 30, 2013
Year in Review: September 2013, Hilton: $24 million project

Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties Ltd. seeks to close the resort for 16 to 18 months for a project that would add 85 tourism units.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Competitors race toward the finish line in August as USRowing hosted its 2013 Masters National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 30, 2013
Year in Review: September 2013, Benderson Park to host rowers

Rowing's governing body chose Nathan Benderson Park to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships, which would be the largest international event in East County's history.

  • East County
  • News
Learn how to turn a pallet into a bed frame in this week's Crafty Genes.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 30, 2013
Video Year in Review: September 2013, Crafty Genes: Pallet Bed Frame

Learn how to turn a pallet into a bed frame in this week's Crafty Genes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties Ltd. will acquire the Chart House property at 201 Gulf of Mexico Drive in October.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 30, 2013
Web Year in Review: September 2013, Key Club to purchase Chart House

Ocean Properties Ltd., owner of the Resort at Longboat Key Club, announced plans Monday to expand its club footprint on the southern tip of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Big Pass, between Siesta Key and Lido Key, has never been dredged.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • December 30, 2013
Year in Review: September 2013, Big Pass dredging plans unveiled

A controversial plan to mine Big Pass for Lido Beach sand was presented to the public for the first time at a Wednesday meeting.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key property owners who don't live here full time and don't use their island home as their primary residence are seeing 25% increases in their flood insurance policies this year.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 29, 2013
Year in Review: August 2013, Insurance rates continue to rise

Mayor Jim Brown and others are worried that if insurance costs keep going up for Key properties, it will scare off potential buyers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jim Purdy has been the director of operations for Manatee County YMCA's four branches, including Lakewood Ranch, for only eight months, but you wouldn’t know it by his lively interactions with customers.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 29, 2013
Year in Review: August 2013, YMCA celebrates 10 years

With expansions and ever-growing product offerings, the Lakewood Ranch YMCA has shown an intense focus on customers who have made it a community staple.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 29, 2013
Video Year in Review: August 2013, The Ringling Bridge: History of a Sarasota Landmark

Watch a documentary video featuring the Ringling Bridge, including interviews with community members who share their thoughts about the Sarasota icon.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
"You know what you said, but you don't know what they heard," newest member of Sarasota Ballet, Ian Tanzer, says of what it's like to see himself on episodes of CW's "Breaking Pointe."
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 29, 2013
Web Year in Review: August 2013, Reality TV star joins Sarasota Ballet

Unless you're familiar with the Monday night CW reality television show 'Breaking Pointe,' which follows members of Salt Lake City's Ballet West and Ballet West 2, chances are you don't know Ian Tanzer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 29, 2013
Year in Review: August 2013, Caragiulo announces bid for Barbetta's seat

Citing a desire for an economically sustainable county and frustration with the city, Paul Caragiulo will seek to succeed Joe Barbetta on the County Commission in 2014.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The commission voted 4-2 to continue the July 1 public hearing to allow Town Manager Dave Bullock to return with language that adds a five-year DROP option to the ordinance.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 28, 2013
Year in Review: July 2013, Employees seek DROP benefit

The Longboat Key Town Commission's decision Aug. 14 will affect the financial futures of town employees and taxpayers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Preliminary certification of taxable values, released July 1 by the Manatee County Property Appraiser's Office, showed values have increased an average of 4% compared to last year.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 28, 2013
Year in Review: July 2013, Manatee property values on the rise

East County communities, such as Lakewood Ranch, are exceeding county averages.

  • East County
  • News
Dick Morgan has worked for Goodwill Manasota for more than 30 years. He says the company’s mission to help others has kept him inspired.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 28, 2013
Video Year in Review: July 2013, Inspirational Influence: Dick Morgan

As image consultant for Goodwill Manasota, 90-year-old Dick Morgan travels to more than 40 stores and donation centers each month to promote Goodwill's mission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Joshua Riley admitted to detectives during a polygraph test, that he performed sexual acts with the victim from the time she was an infant.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 28, 2013
Web Year in Review: July 2013, Police arrest man charged with incest

The Sarasota Police Department has charged a 22-year old man with capital sexual battery and incest for acts committed on a 14-year-old victim

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Laurel Park Overlay District allows for more neighborhood input.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 28, 2013
Year in Review: July 2013, Neighbors gain oversight

After a year of discussion, the City Commission approves the Laurel Park Overlay District. The district requires public hearings before the approval of nearby large developments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub owner Ed Chiles announced during the Longboat Key Town Commission's regular meeting June 3 he will not pursue a plan to use the historic Rufus P. Jordan House for receptions and meeting space.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 27, 2013
Year in Review: June 2013, Chiles nixes plan, annual events

Owner Ed Chiles won't restore the Jordan House or hold events at Mar Vista because of residents' concerns.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 27, 2013
Year in Review: June 2013, Bridge plan moves closer to approval

Manatee County will hold a meeting on the Fort Hamer Bridge project Aug. 7.

  • East County
  • News
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