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Your Observer

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Msgr. Finegan prepares for pilgrimage

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Msgr. Gerard Finegan leaves this week for France to pray at the Marian shrine of Lourdes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Public Tennis Center team declared champs

The Longboat Key Public Tennis Center 75 team was the champion of the 2011-12 Suncoast Senior Men's Tennis League.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Mother's Day Photo Contest Winner

Melissa Herron and her husband, Mike, of Bradenton, are active members of the Longboat Key Turtle Watch.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 9, 2012
Colony parties to return for three more hearings

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge K. Rodney May has scheduled three separate hearings in July to better address cases surrounding the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 9, 2012
Welly, White spar on project history

In 2004, the town held hearings for the Key Club's proposed Ca d'Coure plan, but Michael Welly and Bob White have different memories of the plan.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
News Briefs

Commission makes board appointments; New P&Z director starts Monday; Volunteers needed for Sister Keys cleanup; Key Club ranks No. 11 in top resorts list

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Beverly keeps watch over her three cygnets as they swim Sunday behind the gates at the Longboat Key Club. Photos courtesy of Lou Newman.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • May 9, 2012
Three cygnets are squawk of the town

Swans Alan and Beverly became the parents of four cygnets Monday, April 30. Swankeeper David Novak had been awaiting their exit from the nest, which typically takes place five days after hatching.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Publix construction site, as visible from the Bank of America parking lot, has been cleared of most of the debris from the old store.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 9, 2012
Old Publix is a knockout

The old Publix is history.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Our View: Years of reckoning are here

This is the long-awaited public unveiling of how the Longboat Key Town Commission wants to address that frustrating, ever-festering problem of the town's $28 million unfunded employee-pension liabilities.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Enjoy this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 9, 2012
BID discusses outdoor seating issues on Circle

Business Improvement District board members want city staff to crack down on excess outdoor seating and the hodgepodge of restaurant furniture on St. Armands.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 9, 2012
CDD delays budget approval

Supervisors on the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District board have initiated the budgeting process for the Fiscal Year 2013 but did not take action to approve a proposed $502,000 budget, in its entirety, at their meeting May 2.

  • East County
  • News
"To open this school (Braden River High), gave me new life," Braden River High School Principal Jim Pauley said.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 9, 2012
Pauley to leave Braden River

The school board is expected to approve the appointment of Braden River High School Principal Jim Pauley to director of secondary education May 14.

  • East County
  • News
Lorraine Corners N.W. is located at the intersection of State Road 70 and Lorraine Road.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 9, 2012
Eateries sweeten Lorraine Corners

The Ranch Grill and the Memory Lane Ice Cream & Sweet Shop are the newest businesses to open in the Lorraine Corners N.W. shopping center.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 9, 2012
Son now a 'person of interest' in murder

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office continues to follow leads in the Jan. 9 murder of Ina Gross.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 9, 2012
Mother's Day: Sweet Sentiments

As the East County prepares to celebrate Mother's Day this weekend, the East County Observer took a few minutes to speak with children in Lakewood Ranch High School's Mini Mustangs voluntary pre-kindergarten program to find out what they thought about their own moms.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
News Briefs

American Red Cross thanks volunteers; Trunk show benefits FELTS; East County youth, singer partner for event

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High School Band Director Bob Schaer, left, said he knew almost immediately he wanted Ron Lambert to succeed him as the head of the Mustang band program.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • May 9, 2012
Ranch band director to retire

Bob Schaer, who launched Lakewood Ranch High School's nationally recognized band program, will step down in June.

  • East County
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
A pink shirt signifies Susan Levine’s life-changing breast-cancer survival.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • May 9, 2012
Neighbors: Susan Levine

Levine dedicates her time to promoting grassroots efforts and women's issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Obituary: Stanley A. Macbeth

Stanley A. Macbeth, of Longboat Key, and Avon, Conn., died April 29. He was 85.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Obituary: Pamela Chapman

Pamela Chapman, of Sarasota, and formerly of London and Longboat Key, died May 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Katherine Alexandra was named music director at the Longboat Island Chapel earlier this year.
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • May 9, 2012
Katherine Alexandra takes on role as music director

Russian-born Katherine Alexandra is a talented vocalist; she has won numerous honors as a concert pianist.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Larry Bustle raised the flag during the opening of Bennett Park. File photo.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • May 9, 2012
Observed: In defense of Larry Bustle

It must have been a really slow news day for Fox 13 investigative "reporter" Doug Smith.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • May 9, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Angry encounter shocks teen cyclist

  • East County
  • Opinion
MTI student Jennifer Pies cleaned the teeth of Braden River Elementary School student Alexis Carrillo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 9, 2012
MTI students brighten smiles

Students in Manatee Technical Institute's Dental Assisting program provided free dental care to school children during a special clinic.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch senior Devin McDermott anchored the Lady Mustangs 4x800 relay to a first-place finish at the Class 3A state meet May 4, in Jacksonville.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 9, 2012
Lady Mustangs' Devin McDermott anchors in state title

Lakewood Ranch senior Devin McDermott anchored the Lady Mustangs 4x800 relay to a first-place finish at the Class 3A state meet May 4, in Jacksonville.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Lakewood Ranch High softball team celebrates after scoring the final run of its 10-0 victory over New Port Richey River Ridge to earn its first trip to the state semifinals. Photos by Brian Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 9, 2012
Lady Mustangs slide into states

The Lakewood Ranch softball team will make its first appearance in the state semifinals after defeating New Port Richey River Ridge 10-0.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 9, 2012
Comment: 2012 proves to be Lakewood's 'Year of the Champion'

Whether it's setting a personal record, winning a championship or moving on to play at the next level, each individual athlete has his or her own idea of what it means to be a successful athlete.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood senior pitcher Seth McGarry, who suffered an elbow injury in the offseason, made his third start of the season, leading the Mustangs to a 8-1 victory.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 9, 2012
McGarry hurls Lakewood Ranch to regional semis

The Lakewood Ranch extended its season with a 8-1 victory over Tampa Sickles in the Class 6A-Region 3 quarterfinals.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA junior Alex Horan pitched the first inning of the Thunder's 6-1 loss to St. Petersburg Catholic May 2.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 9, 2012
Thunder's season ends in regional quarterfinals

The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team lost 6-1 to St. Petersburg Catholic.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 9, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Huntyre Elling

Lakewood Ranch High senior Huntyre Elling recorded her eighth shutout of the season, allowing three hits and one walk, while striking out seven en route to leading the Lady Mustangs to a 10-0 victory over New Port Richey River Ridge in the Class 6A-Region 3 finals May 1.

  • East County
  • Sports
This home at 611 Mourning Dove Drive has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,326 square feet of living area. It sold for $3 million. Photo by Mallory Gnaegy.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 9, 2012
Gulf of Mexico Drive home sells for $3.3 million

A home in Longboat Key Bayfront tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Frank and Ellen Kaman sold their home at 5200 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Joseph and Clare Welch, of Plymouth, Mich., for $3.3 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
  • By Brian Gunnell
  • May 9, 2012
Bridge Bites: Voyage of discovery

Forgive the grandiloquent title: We are not talking here about Lewis and Clark, nor the HMS Beagle, nor even Christopher Columbus.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dawn DiLorenzo submitted this sunrise photo, taken overlooking Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Dawn DiLorenzo submitted this sunrise photo, taken overlooking Sarasota Bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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