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Your Observer

File photo
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Bob Craft was always on a mission to serve

The U.S. Air Force veteran and Emerald Harbor resident died last week of cancer. He was 70.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • April 17, 2013
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 17, 2013
Our View: For the soul of the Colony

Inch by inch, the stalemate at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort is stepping toward a resolution.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming feels at home in his current position now. This past year he restructured the police department and revived a license plate camera recognition system.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 17, 2013
Police chief: first year in review

There was no time for on-the-job training when Pete Cumming became the Key's top cop following the sudden death of longtime Police Chief Al Hogle.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The congregation held a special members-only meeting Sunday, April 14, to vote on whether to approve an extension of a three-year lease agreement for a 150-foot cell tower to be built on the church property or to let the lease expire.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 17, 2013
Chapel votes no on cell tower lease

Although a lease to place a cell tower on Island Chapel property will not be renewed, Alpha Omega says it's the only viable option.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The doors of three Colony units were damaged in incidents last week. Photo courtesy of the Longboat Key Police Department.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Vandals check back in at vacant Colony units

The last official guests at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort checked out in August 2010. But since the resort closed approximately two-and-a-half years ago, it's had some unwanted visitors who have entered units and damaged the property.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Chris Tatreau's company provides the digital clocks on the Boston Marathon course. File photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Key resident shares details of past Boston Marathons

Village resident Chris Tatreau's company has worked as a subcontractor for the past 27 years of the Boston Marathon.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 17, 2013
Project partner trims beach costs

The town will perform a hot spot beach project this summer to restore sand to high-erosion areas.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 17, 2013
Town will scrutinize 911 dispatch offer

The Town Commission is skeptical Sarasota County can provide the level of service Key residents expect from dispatchers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A twin-engine boat of more than 35 feet sits in the front of a Bayview Drive home 10 months out of the year. The boat is legal under town code.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 17, 2013
Boat parking makes waves at P&Z Board meeting

The old phrase "a picture is worth 1,000 words" hit home at Tuesday's April 16 Planning and Zoning Board meeting,

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • April 17, 2013
Code Board questions lack of use

The agenda for the Longboat Key Code Enforcement Board meeting was simple: The board wanted to know why a string of meetings has been canceled and to debate whether the board is needed because of a new philosophy for dealing with code violators.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 17, 2013
News Briefs

Bullock hires a new town finance director

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Fritz Wolmarans, of Russia, races to make a forehand return against Serbia's Ilija Bozoljac Monday, April 15, during the Sarasota Open.
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • April 17, 2013
Sarasota Open brings swing to Key Club's Tennis Gardens

The competition is heating up at the sixth Sarasota Open, which began Saturday, April 13, at the Longboat Key Club & Resort's Tennis Gardens.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Officials expect The Mall at University Town Center to bring more than 2,000 permanent jobs to the area, as well as about 1,000 construction jobs.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • April 17, 2013
Permit sets off vertical construction of mall

Sarasota County gave Taubman Centers the go-ahead to build the shell of The Mall at University Town Center.

  • East County
  • News
In an April 2 memo to principals, Superintendent Rick Mills asked school leaders to provide excess funds from their individual school accounts, called internal funds, to trim up to $1 million of the deficit.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • April 17, 2013
District asks schools for money

Manatee County schools are being asked to find money from their internal funds to help the school district recover.

  • East County
  • News
Shelby King, co-owner of King Family Farm, may have put her dream of offering a variety of fresh produce to the public on hold, but she’s moving ahead with other ideas to keep the farm going. The farm now offers u-pick blueberries and peaches.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 17, 2013
Cultivating change: Ben and Shelby King

Ben and Shelby King are redefining their agricultural dream.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
FISA Executive Director Matt Smith, right, flips through Sarasota/Manatee’s bid, which SunCoast Aquatic Nature Center Association, including Paul Blackketter, left, of Benderson Development, submitted.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • April 17, 2013
International rowing body reviews park

Representatives of FISA visited Nathan Benderson Park this week to see if the site should host the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

  • East County
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch High softball team gets pumped up before the start of its game with rival Braden River April 9.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 17, 2013
Final Farewell: Braden River and Lakewood Ranch High seniors

Thirteen Braden River and Lakewood Ranch High seniors played the final East County rivalry game of their high school careers April 9.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Leaving town? Learn how to protect your property

If you're getting ready to head north for the summer, plan to take the necessary steps now to ensure your home stays safe and secure.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 17, 2013
Letters to the Editor

One Colony board member doesn't speak for all; Kudos is in order for federal income tax history editorial

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Petar Sibinkic, owner of Your Fitness Instructor, designed the new personal-training studio, which has new equipment, including six new cardio machines.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Tenants cash in on new Shoppes of Bay Isles plaza

Business owners at the new Shoppes of Bay Isles say they are seeing an increase in traffic at the Publix-owned shopping center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The male swan, far left, glides next to his new mate as the other female swan that tried to woo him looks away. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Bay Isles swans turn into couple of lovebirds

A male and female swan have entered coupling mode, meaning they'll become the fifth pair in the Longboat Key swan family to be named.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Lore: Raccoon debate trapped commission

There was a population boom in 1980 - of raccoons, that is. A trapper's plan to end the boom had some residents practically foaming at the mouth.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Hendrick
  • April 17, 2013
Your Neighbor: Jane Perin

That Jane Perin enjoyed a 40-year career as a professional caterer shouldn't shock anyone who's tried her chicken salad, quiche or strawberry jam cheesecake.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Event seeks to SPARCC designer donations

The Safe Place and Rice Crisis Center is seeking high-end brand donations to support its mission of ending domestic and sexual violence.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 17, 2013
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Barry Gradert, right, spends weekends at the Tara home of his stepmother, Polly Gradert, whom he has known since 1979. Barry Gradert has lived at Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities’ Friendship House for the last 26 years.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • April 17, 2013
Special-needs prom brings smiles and dancing

Barry Gradert isn't one to shy away from the dance floor, nor is he afraid to ask a girl to dance.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Students and staff came up with the idea of having Assistant Principal Tia Henderson and Principal Kathy Hayes dress as clowns if they beat a $10,000 fundraising goal at Gullett’s annual Walk-a-Thon.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • April 17, 2013
Administrators show off their funny sides

Gullett Elementary Principal Kathy Hayes and Assistant Principal Tia Henderson dressed like clowns April 12 to fulfill a fundraising promise delivered to students.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
"I liked the idea of flying through the air. It sort of came naturally to me."
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 17, 2013
Record-Setter: Tre Gregory

The Out-of-Door Academy sophomore pole vaulter Tre Gregory will compete in the Class 1A-Region 3 meet April 18.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 17, 2013
SIDELINES

Imagine School wins soccer championship; River Dawgs win local tournament; ODA comes up big

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 17, 2013
JUST THE STATS

700 - The number of students who are expected to participate in the Manatee Elementary Track Championships April 20, at Bayshore High.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 17, 2013
Athlete of the Week: Taylor Pawelkoski

Twelve-year-old middle linebacker Taylor Pawelkoski recently was selected to represent Team Florida in the 2013 Future Stars Game June 15, at Bolles School in Jacksonville.

  • East County
  • Sports
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 17, 2013
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
This home at 112 N. Washington Drive has four bedrooms, four baths, one half-bath, a pool and 6,125 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.25 million. Photo by Katie Hendrick.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 17, 2013
A home in John Ringling Estates sells for $4.25 million

A home in John Ringling Estates tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Priscilla Doulton, trustee, sold the home at 112 N. Washington Drive to NAH LLC for $4.25 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Joyce
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • April 17, 2013
Real Estate Reports

Leslie Joyce joins Coldwell LBK office; MaryElizabeth Ameal joins MS&Co.; Wagner Realty announces top agents

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Frederick Beyerlein submitted this sunset photo, taken from Spanish Main Yacht Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 17, 2013
Weather Photo: STROKES OF GENIUS

Frederick Beyerlein submitted this sunset photo, taken from Spanish Main Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
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Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
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Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
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Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
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The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
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East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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