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Your Observer

The Sarasota Crew masters rowing team, which was formed four years ago, includes about 30 rowers, who range in age from 22 to 64. Jen Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 7, 2013
Masterful

The Sarasota Crew masters rowing team will compete in the USRowing Masters National Championships Aug. 15 through Aug. 18, at Nathan Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
OUR VIEW: Priceless opportunity

As this was being composed, the scene at the Manatee County Convention Center rekindled memories - those tiring days of the Longboat Key Town Commission hearings over the Longboat Key Club and Resort's proposed $400 million redevelopment and expansion plan.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
Obituary: Marjorie Hammer

Marjorie Hammer, 94, of Longboat Key, died July 31.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
Obituary: Charles Van Winfree

Charles Van Winfree, 96, of Longboat Key, died July 31.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Hospital hosts trunk sale benefit

The Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Auxiliary Hospital Gift Shop will hold a two-day trunk show to benefit the hospital.

  • East County
  • News
Gail Shane
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Radio program celebrates milestone

Local Realtor liaison Gail Shane recently celebrated the fourth anniversary of her radio program, 'Gail Shane & Friends,' which airs at 10 a.m. Saturday, on WSRQ Radio 106.9 FM and 1220 AM.

  • East County
  • News
At a Manatee County Board of County Commissioners meeting Aug. 1, Hunzeker revealed a revised $520 million budget that keeps property rates the same as today.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 7, 2013
County sets millage rate, presents revised budget

Manatee County commissioners set an unchanged millage rate and agreed to give money to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office to increase staff there.

  • East County
  • News
A man waits at a Sarasota County Area Transit bus on University Parkway. The Manatee County Area Transit service provides no buses on University Parkway east of U.S. 301.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 7, 2013
MPO commissions bus-service study

The Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization has hired a consultant to determine if mass transit - bus service - is a good fit for Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Construction crews are working on the mall's concourse area. Shops will line both sides of the two-level building.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 7, 2013
Mall at University Town Center construction on schedule

Developers say they have a 'strong lineup of national tenants' slated for the project.

  • East County
  • News
Tony Barrett and Rob Riganati, both Sarasota County firemen, serve on the Heroes Welcome Home board of directors, which brainstorms new fundraising ideas during monthly meetings.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 7, 2013
Veteran starts charity to help fellow soldiers

Tony Barrett started Heroes Welcome Home, a charity that aims to help veterans fulfill their dreams of home ownership.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 7, 2013
Lakewood Ranch promotes new technology

Water utilities and Town Hall officials hope a new rebate program will help curb unnecessary lawn watering.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Impromptu food drive reaps big returns

When Lakewood Ranch resident Don O'Leary heard the Food Bank of Manatee was in dire need of food donations, he scheduled an Aug. 3 emergency pickup within the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club and Edgewater communities.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County middle- and high-school students participated in the 2013 Future Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference last month.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
FCCLA students earn top honors at conference

Manatee County middle- and high-school students participated in the 2013 Future Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference last month, in Nashville, competed against 3,600 students nationwide and brought home nine medals.

  • East County
  • News
Ted Hamm is eager to start work as a chaplain for the U.S. Army. He will participate in chaplain training in South Carolina.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 7, 2013
Cornerstone pastor takes new post

Cornerstone's assistant pastor, Ted Hamm, will leave this month for Columbia, S.C., to become an Army chaplain.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (2011)
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 7, 2013
Sheckler family visits all 50 states

Over four summers, Ken, Kala, Kendal and Karley Sheckler visited every state in the U.S., a freewheeling journey in which many moments were left to chance.

  • East County
  • News
James Smith submitted this sunset photo, taken near Jiggs Landing.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Weather 8.8.13

James Smith submitted this sunset photo, taken near Jiggs Landing.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS

Potable water service meters will be replaced throughout the town starting this month at no cost to water customers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The interior of Crab & Fin will receive a total transformation during two-and-a-half weeks of renovations in September. Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
Crab & Fin seeks to raise the bar with renovations

The St. Armands Circle restaurant will close for two-and-a-half weeks in September for major renovations, including a reconfigured bar area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarah Olivero with a female black skimmer that recently lost part of its beak when a beachgoer struck it with a chair. Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
SOS hospital administrator hears the call of wildlife

Sarah Olivero was recently promoted to the position of avian hospital administrator of Save Our Seabirds.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The building at 571 St. Judes Drive has two units listed on Zillow.com for less than $1,000. Robin Hartill
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
Low-cost annual home rentals grow rare on the Key

More property owners are opting to rent their properties seasonally, which makes yearly rentals tougher to find than ever.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Submerged vegetation in lakes at Braden River Nature Park have reached the surface of the water, after water levels receded. Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 7, 2013
Contractors battle heavy rainfall impact

Contractors are working to eliminate unsightly algae and submerged vegetation in Lakewood Ranch, after heavy rainfalls last month.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS

It's not yet official, but Sarasota's Nathan Benderson Park very well may be the future venue for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

  • East County
  • News
Chase Jones took the Sunrise Cube to ArtCenter Manatee July 27 and will bring it to the Longboat Key Center for the Arts in August.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • August 7, 2013
Artist enlightens the community on project

Chase Jones, from Lakewood Ranch, is a multimedia artist going on tour with his project, called the Sunrise Cube. He hopes to shed light on the project and in the community.

  • East County
  • News
Florida's men’s 50+ volleyball team. Photo courtesy Craig Wolfe
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
SIDELINES

Four Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners swimmers qualified for the YMCA Nationals.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
COPS CORNER: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of COPS CORNER

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Community Golf

Tom Skoda used his 6-iron to record an ace July 10 on the 176-yard No. 13 of Cypress Links.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
Letters to the Editor

Boats should stay off front yards

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
COPS CORNER: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of COPS CORNER

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Venice surged ahead of Longboat in safety

Longboat Key had long held the distinction of being the safest city in Sarasota and Manatee counties. But, in 1999, Venice became the safest city.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 7, 2013
REAL ESTATE REPORTS

A three-bedroom unit at the luxury Ritz-Carlton Beach Residences sold this week for $3.35 million - the highest amount paid for a unit in the building since February 2012.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This home at 642 Ranger Lane has six bedrooms, seven-and-a-half baths, a pool and 7,091 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.5 million. Heather Merriman
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 7, 2013
Six-bedroom home sells for $4.5 million

A home in Country Club Shores tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Designed in the storybook style, this Indian Beach home looks like the setting for a fairy tale come to life. Photos courtesy of Michael Saunders and Co.
    By
  • Robert Plunket
  • August 7, 2013
Home of the Month: Enchanted Cottage

A mysterious past adds romance to a famous Sarasota home.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
S'macks is open for business at 2407 Bee Ridge Road (courtesy photo).
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • August 6, 2013
S'macks Burgers & Shakes now open

If you lived in Sarasota during the 1940s and '50s, you might remember The Smack, a beloved burger drive-in. S'macks is intended to have the reincarnated feel of that place, albeit with a new name and legacy all of its own -- starting with opening day, Wednesday, Aug. 7.

  • Arts + Culture
Ethan Knize and his brother, Liam, browse the booths of the Sarasota Police Department. Ethan tried on a SWAT team tactical vest and ballistic helmet.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • August 6, 2013
Neighbors meet police during National Night Out

Law enforcement and the community got to know each other at the 30th anniversary of National Night Out.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently awarded the Historical Society of Sarasota County a $3,770 grant for a security-camera system.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2013
Aug. 6: Daily Headlines

Today's Stories: PHOTO GALLERY: First Monday; Landmarks fight vandalism with security cameras; PHOTO GALLERY: PLATO fundraising event; Sarasota's Nathan Benderson recommended for championships

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Siesta Key Crystal Classic brings 30,000 to 50,000 visitors to Siesta Key each year.
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • August 6, 2013
Outdoor displays, Crystal Classic top SKVA agenda

The Siesta Key Village Association met Tuesday to discuss issues affecting Siesta Key businesses and residents.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Cindy Ritchell, Ann Quackenbush, Brenda Korthauer, Beverly Sutton and Kit Torchia all lend a helping hand in packing seeds to send internationally to farmers who need them. Quackenbush is a driving force behind Hope Seeds, a charitable ministry through Christ Church of Longboat Key.
  • December 22, 2025
Longboat's Hope Seeds nears 10 years of giving back
2
Andrew Carrillo poses for a photo on Dec. 16 at Out-of-Door Academy. He's been the go-to guy on attack for the Thunder throughout their 2025-26 season.
  • December 22, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Andrew Carrillo
3
Manatee County commissioners approve reducing speed limits throughout the county.
  • December 22, 2025
Speed limits reduced on nine roads in Manatee County
4
The library will be constructed on the light green area depicted on this map within Longboat Key's Town Center Green. The entire library would be around 11,230 square feet with the possible enhancements.
  • December 22, 2025
Buchanan's $1 million donation formally accepted for library
5
Sarasota students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa
  • December 22, 2025
Sarasota students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa

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