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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Our View: The real fix for schools

With Florida being a typical bipolar, 50%-49%, blue state-red state with a predominantly left-leaning media, Republican Gov. Rick Scott seldom gets credit for the good he does and is doing.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • December 12, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
News Briefs

Town interviews planning consultants; Town accepting Toys for Tots donations

  • Longboat Key
  • News
H. Terrell "Terry" Griffin holds a copy of his newest novel, "Fatal Decree," published by the Longboat Key-based Oceanview Publishing.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 12, 2012
Q&A with Longboat Key novelist H. Terrell Griffin

Longboat Key novelist H. Terrell 'Terry' Griffin discuss his seventh novel, 'Fatal Decree,' which comes out in January.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Rev. Dr. Vincent Carroll. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 12, 2012
Longboat Island Chapel makes likely pastor selection

Longboat Island Chapel's congregation will vote in January on whether to accept the Rev. Dr. Vincent Carroll, of Sarasota, as the church's senior minister.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Obituary: David Lund

David Lund, 80, of Longboat Key, died Nov. 29.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Obituary: Nancy Berkely

Nancy Berkely, 90, of Sarasota and Dodge City, Kan., died Dec. 5.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 12, 2012
Former Mayor Legler served a constructive nine years

Former Mayor Kennedy "Ken" Legler Jr., who served nearly nine years on the Longboat Key Town Commission, died Sunday, Dec. 9. He was 89.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Wiegand family has made participating in the Living Nativity a family tradition. Pictured clockwise from bottom left are: Fairyn, Alexander, Benjamin, Catherine, Lance, Elizabeth, Davis and Sarah.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2012
A Christmas Story

The Tabernacle Church will host its 26th annual Living Nativity Dec. 13 through Dec. 16.

  • East County
  • News
Originally from Argentina, 39-year-old three-goal polo player Francisco Llosa says he learned to walk and ride at the same time.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 12, 2012
Polo season kicks off with fresh faces, new scoreboard

Competitors from across the country invade the Sarasota Polo Club for the latest winter season starting Dec. 16.

  • East County
  • News
Joseph Axtell, a 23-year-old University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee senior, won the #VolvoJoyride contest on Pinterest, earning a four-day, three-night road trip to Colorado Springs, Colo., in his dream car.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 12, 2012
Joy Ride: East County resident takes trip in his dream car

Joseph Axtell won the #VolvoJoyride contest on Pinterest, earning a trip to Colorado Springs, Colo., in his dream car.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 12, 2012
District budget woes grow

Interim Superintendent David Gayler remains optimistic, despite finding more budgetary problems.

  • East County
  • News
The Center for Building Hope offers classes like this Qigong class, meant to help reduce stress, for cancer patients and others affected by cancer.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 12, 2012
Center for Building Hope hosts medical students

FSU students Huy Pham and Gerald Bieniek participated in a three-week clerkship meant to broaden their understanding of medicine.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jayne Alexis Keys died from stage four rhabdomyosarcoma Dec. 8. Before she died, she enjoyed an afternoon in the snow at her Braden Woods home.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 12, 2012
Jayne Keys enjoyed her last wish - to play in the snow

The 4-year-old known for her passion for life died from cancer Dec. 8, but not before she played in snow and built a snowman.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Letters to the Editor

A proud marching band parent's perspective

  • East County
  • Opinion
"It's a lot of fun," club member Cheryl Griesbach said of the arrangement-making activity. "We're all learning."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2012
Garden Club cultivates cheer

The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club made floral arrangements for homebound East County seniors at their Dec. 10 meeting.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 12, 2012
Holiday fun returns to Main Street

Holidays Around the Ranch will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 14, at Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • East County
  • News
Barbara Blumfield
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 12, 2012
Season of Sharing: Barbara Blumfield

Barbara Blumfield, a Sarasota Bay Club resident, has donated to Season of Sharing for the past 10 years.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2012
Mustangs commit to colleges

Lakewood swimmers Danielle Valley and Will Kazokas and softball players Taylor Newton, Jenn Trotter and McKaleigh Goodale made their college decisions known.

  • East County
  • Sports
Marie Babayan won her second Class 3A District 12 title last spring. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2012
Lady Pirate tennis player signs with Coastal Carolina

Braden River High senior Marie Babayan signed a national letter of intent Nov. 16 to play tennis for Coastal Carolina University.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
SIDELINES

Pirates boys basketball remains unbeaten; Thunder boys basketball nabs first win during game; Lady Thunder basketball shoots past Lady Falcons

  • East County
  • Sports
East County resident Robyn LeBuffe, right, pictured with her business partner, Justin Ortiz, opened Ultimate Tiger Martial Arts two years ago when she was 16 years old.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2012
School of champions: Ultimate Tiger Martial Arts

East County resident Robyn LeBuffe opened a martial-arts school when she was 16 years old.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
COMMUNITY GOLF SCOREBOARD

Here are this week's community golf scores.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2012
Athlete of the week: Ryan Sollazzo

Lakewood Ranch High junior forward Ryan Sollazzo recorded his first hat trick of the season to help lead the Mustangs to a 4-0 victory over district rival Braden River Nov. 28.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 12, 2012
1998: Town addressed naked truth

The Longboat Key Town Commission addressed its nudity ordinance in 1998, after discovering a few kinks.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Longboat Key should hire an attorney for all; New system breaches residents' privacy

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Unit 704 at The Beaches of Longboat Key has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,602 square feet of living area. It sold for $770,000. File photo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 12, 2012
Two-bedroom Beaches condo sells for $770,000

A condominium in The Beaches of Longboat Key tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Martin Epstein, trustee, and Sondra Epstein, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 704 condominium at 775 Longboat Club Road to Francoise Janssen, of Longboat Key, for $770,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Barbi Nutting submitted this sunset photo, taken at one of the public beach accesses on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Barbi Nutting submitted this sunset photo, taken at one of the public beach accesses on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
BUSINESS OBSERVER

Certified Collectibles Group adds coins to portfolio; Lee Wetherington Homes re-launches custom-lot division; Nutter Custom Construction breaks ground in the Lake Club

  • East County
  • News
This home in Lake Club, which has five bedrooms, four baths, two half-baths, a pool and 6,068 square feet of living area, sold for $1.25 million. Photo by Josh Siegel.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 12, 2012
Five-bedroom Lake Club home sells for $1.25 million

A home in Lake Club tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Brookfield Relocation Inc. sold the home at 16318 Foremast Place to Reuben and Sarah Ben-Arie, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.25 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Maggie Bechtold submitted this sunrise photo, taken over Lake Uihlein in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Maggie Bechtold submitted this sunrise photo, taken over Lake Uihlein in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Join Emily Walsh for the Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • December 11, 2012
Dec. 11: Daily Headlines Video

Today's Stories: Sarasota names downtown economic steward; Proposed entertainment district discussed; Whitney Beach Plaza renovations begin and more!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Suzuki Violin Players perform Tuesday, Dec. 11, during the Christmas and Holiday Music Fest at Siesta Key Chapel.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 11, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA's Christmas and Holiday Music Fest

The Out-of-Door Academy's Suzuki Violin Players and the Kindergarten Chorus performed Tuesday, Dec. 11, in the Christmas and Holiday Music Fest at Siesta Key Chapel.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
In Greenville, Norman Gollub led an effort to move a loading zone and widen the sidewalk enabled restaurants to expand.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 11, 2012
Sarasota names downtown economic steward

At a previous post in Greenville, S.C., Norman Gollub spent six years working to reduce commercial vacancies and bring in private developments.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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