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Your Observer

    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • March 28, 2012
FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT: Mary Mitchell

Mary Mitchell is a fashion designer with a rags-to-riches story. Read more about her in our candid Q&A.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
City Hall was designed by Jack West in 1965 and was constructed the following year.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 28, 2012
City Hall listed as Top 100 building

City Hall, built in 1966, has been included as a Florida architecture Top 100 building and residents can vote for the building as their favorite architectural site in the state.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Network considers Ranch for new show

APRIL FOOLS - Talent scouts for the Bravo network will be in Lakewood Ranch next week to begin casting for a new "Real Housewives" series.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Mr. Potato Head discovered out east

APRIL FOOLS - Move over, Legoman. There's a new oversized toy in town.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Volunteer drivers needed

APRIL FOOLS - To combat rising printing costs, the Longboat Observer is asking for help from its readers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mirai Mehta, 4, gets some pointers from Coach Scott Treibly.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • March 28, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Tennis Tuesdays at New Gate School

The USTA 10 and Under Tennis Program, more affectionately known as 'Tennis Tuesday', has the students at New Gate learning the basics from forehands, backhands and volleys to agility to sportsmanship.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
This issue is in good taste

APRIL FOOLS - For this issue, the Longboat Observer has teamed up with an area company to test one of its newest line of products: edible ink and paper.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Seeking tutors and volunteers

The Literacy Council of Sarasota is seeking tutors to help Sarasota adults improve their English.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Catch and release

Curt and Pia Laguerre Ravn caught an injured blue heron after nine weeks of an ongoing effort with Save Our Seabirds.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Harriet Grace Sokmensuer
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Couple celebrates 50 years of marriage

Longboaters Larry and Carol English celebrated their 50th anniversary with friends and family Friday, March 23, at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Primrose family needs your votes!

One East County family is a finalist in the Primrose School and Children's Miracle Network Family Dance-off competition.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
SMR employee spies alligator

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch Director of Marketing and Public Relations Candice McElyea shared this photo of a gator she snapped in Lakewood Ranch earlier this month.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Ballet school presents 'Cinderella'

The School of Russian Ballet will bring fairy-tale magic to the East County with its production of "Cinderella" at 2 p.m.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort currently has 102 rooms.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 28, 2012
Hilton looks to expand property

Ocean Properties Vice President of Operations Andy Berger recently met with town officials to discuss a redevelopment of the property that could double its room count.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Town Clerk Trish Granger administers oaths of office Tuesday night to Vice Mayor David Brenner and Mayor Jim Brown. Photo by Dora Walters.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 28, 2012
FULL STORY: Brown gets second term

Mayor Jim Brown and Vice Mayor David Brenner will each get another year in their posts after two unanimous votes by the Town Commission.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 28, 2012
Welfonder, Tallman make pitch to Colony

Developers Manfred Welfonder and Jay Tallman have partnered in hopes of convincing Colony unit owners to support an alternative redevelopment plan.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 28, 2012
Gill forms new Sarasota congregation

The former Longboat Island Chapel minister has formed the New Village Chapel in Sarasota with congregants.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 28, 2012
County moves forward with Longboat Pass plan

Manatee County commissioners voted 6-1 to proceed with the plan recommended by Coastal Planning & Engineering that suggests three groins for the north end of the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 28, 2012
Planning & Zoning Board puts Comp Plan policy on hold

The Planning & Zoning Board moved forward with changes to its Comprehensive Plan with the exception of one policy that some say could impact a future cellular tower.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Dr. Murf Klauber endorses the future of his new resort and encourages unit owners to partake in the naturist trial period.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • March 28, 2012
Company shows naked ambition

APRIL FOOLS - The operators of three Florida nudist resorts has made a serious offer to settle the Colony dispute.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A giant “cha-ching” sound echoed through Longboat Key Town Commission Chambers earlier this week when commissioners heard the town received a letter of application from the Calusa Indian Tribe to anchor a casino boat to the Islander Club groin
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • March 28, 2012
Casino boats eyeing Longboat's coast

APRIL FOOLS - Some say the plan for a pair of Longboat casino boats is a win, but others believe the town will lose its shirt at the poker table.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
North-enders Lillian Sands and Marcia Gutridge with south-enders Wendy Feinstein and Carol Brualdi are preparing for four months of filming "The Real Housewives of Longboat Key." The show will air April 1, 2013.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • March 28, 2012
Will the real housewives please stand up?

APRIL FOOLS - Television producers prepare for filming on the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Interim Town Manager Dave Bullock has been preparing extensively for "America's Next Town Manager." Photo by Dora Walters.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Commission launches town manager challenge

APRIL FOOLS - The commission will seek an interim interim town manager as interim Town Manager David Bullock competes against other candidates for the permanent town manager position.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A city of Sarasota worker installs the first parking meter on the Circle Monday morning.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Parking meters installed on Circle

APRIL FOOLS - St. Armands Circle is now home to Sarasota's failed parking meters.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
News Briefs

APRIL FOOLS - Town takes action after raccoon rampage; Two blocks of GMD to close for construction; Wireless study endorses 200-foot tower

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
News Briefs

Vision Plan now available on town's website; Town looks into changing stoplight timing; Longboat firefighters to hold open house

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Executive Director of Sarasota Bay Watch Andy Mele stands near the bay he hopes to protect in the coming years.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • March 28, 2012
Sarasota Bay Watch welcomes its new executive director

In December, Andy Mele became the executive director of Sarasota Bay Watch.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • March 28, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Our View: Election results send message

Interpret the Longboat Key Town Commission election results however you wish.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Letter to the Editor

Rajewski represented homeowners' values

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • March 28, 2012
St. Armands focuses on parking garage

Now that a median project has been completed, St. Armands Circle officials are now focused on burying power lines and building a parking garage on the Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 28, 2012
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Mary Mitchell recently published a book that archives 30 years of her work as a fashion illustrator.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • March 28, 2012
Neighbors: Mary Mitchell

This fashion illustrator went from rags to designer garments.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Rev. Bryan O'Carroll
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • March 28, 2012
Sandpipers group learns about local aid

The Rev. Bryan O'Carroll, of St. George's Episcopal Church, in Bradenton, was the guest speaker at the March 20 meeting of All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church Men's Sandpipers Group.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Schroeder-Manatee Ranch President and CEO Rex Jensen last week negotiated with the city of Sarasota to purchase all the assets from its failed downtown parking-meter program.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • March 28, 2012
Parking meters come to Ranch

APRIL FOOLS - After the Sarasota City Commission voted in March to shut down its $510,000 parking-meter program, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch Inc. purchased all 459 meters to install in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Pat Neal
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • March 28, 2012
Pat Neal leads new push to incorporate

APRIL FOOLS - A new Florida statute will make it easier for Lakewood Ranch to incorporate into its own city.

  • East County
  • News
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