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Your Observer

"I do believe in leading by example, showing respect and building relationships," Lakewood Ranch Town Hall's Executive Director Eva Rey said. "There isn't anything I would ask my employee to do that I wouldn't do myself."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 27, 2011
TOP STORY, JUNE: Eva Rey

The Villages' Eva Rey was chosen as Lakewood Ranch Town Hall's new executive director.

  • East County
  • News
Abigail Swindell fed Gertrude and Margilow in May at her home in Sarasota. CLUCK is a group that has lobbied for urban chicken keeping throughout the county.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: May, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A parking meter stood bagged in downtown Sarasota, with paid parking set to begin May 23.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: May, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Pelican Press.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Before he walked away from the commission table mid-meeting May 25, Jim Ley shook hands and hugged all five county commissioners, including Chairwoman Nora Patterson. Photo by Robin Roy.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 26, 2011
TOP STORY, MAY: 'Thanks' and 'goodbye'

Jim Ley had positive things to say about the residents and staff for which he served more than a decade as the chief executive of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stan led his three cygnets for a swim in May around the Harbour Links pond.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: May, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Longboat Observer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Key Club attorney John Patterson said the DCA's lack of objections means the central argument of the Islandside Property Owners Coalition (IPOC) has been eradicated.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 26, 2011
TOP STORY, MAY: 'The end for IPOC'?

Attorneys for the town of Longboat Key and the Longboat Key Club believe a state report eliminates the Islandside Property Owners Coalition's central argument against the club's Islandside project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Jim Ley, former County Administrator.
  • By Stan Zimmerman
  • December 26, 2011
TOP STORY, MAY: Ley tenders resignation to board

Sarasota County's procurement scandal appeared ready to claim its seventh victim May 24, as County Administrator Jim Ley tendered his resignation at the start of the County Commission meeting.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Braden River High School students hit the dance floor early for Prom May 13. Published May 19, 2011.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 26, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: May, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The East County Observer.

  • East County
  • News
Bob Hendel of the anti-incorporation group, the Friends of Lakewood Ranch, said incorporation would take away local control.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 26, 2011
TOP STORY, MAY: Lakewood Ranch Incorporation Debate

Pro- and anti-incorporation groups faced off Monday for the first Lakewood Ranch Incorporation Debate hosted by the East County Observer.

  • East County
  • News
Abandoned boxcars on the railroad track through Shade Avenue concerned nearby residents in April.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 25, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: April, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Barry Sullivan takes a trip on his new kayak with his dog, Justice.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 25, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: April, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Pelican Press.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Abandoned boxcars have been left on the railroad track that goes through Shade Avenue. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 25, 2011
TOP STORY, APRIL: Boxcar Battle

Fearing they're an invitation for trouble, residents are trying to get a railroad company to move about two-dozen railcars that have been parked in between two Sarasota communities.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In April, developer Brian Kenney, with Juliani Kenney Investment Capital LLC, stood in front of Whitney Beach Plaza, which was 85% vacant at the time.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 25, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: April, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Longboat Observer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Longboat Key Town Commission elected Pat Zunz to the District 5 Commission seat Monday night. Photo by Dora Walters.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 25, 2011
TOP STORY APRIL: Commission chooses Zunz for District 5 seat

The Longboat Key Town Commission welcomed former Planning and Zoning Board member Pat Zunz to the dais Monday night.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Key residents became concerned that a bill in the Legislature would result in a significant number of short-term rentals in residential areas.
  • By Stan Zimmerman
  • December 25, 2011
TOP STORY, APRIL: 'Motel' next door? Thank your Legislature

An under-the-radar bill working its way through the Florida Legislature would allow construction of hotels and motels in any area zoned 'residential.'

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Eight-graders Tatum Young, Isabelle Basden and Julia Nordhausen walked with Nolan Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society team Lakewood Ranch Relay for Life event at Lakewood Ranch High School April 9-10. Published April 14, 2011.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 25, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: April, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The East County Observer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Leonardo Leal-Geurrero will visit Harvard this weekend. "Even when I didn’t have a house to live (in) or have a home, education was where I got my strength from," Leonardo says. "It was my motivator."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 25, 2011
TOP STORY, APRIL: Tale of Triumph

When Leonardo Leal-Guerrero immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in 2005, he knew no English. He then bounced from home to home - sometimes staying with neighbors when he had nowhere else to go. By the end of his high school career, the Braden River senior had two choices for college - Harvard or Stanford.

  • East County
  • News
Cameron Seguin cheers on her big sister by waving pom-poms in the air at Tatum Ridge Elementary’s March jog-a-thon.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: March, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
...
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: March, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Pelican Press.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Jean Gruss
  • December 24, 2011
TOP STORY, MARCH: Follow the money

A group of Collier County government appointees asked The Jackson Laboratory tough questions. In the end, Collier decided it was too risky.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mary and John Bock chaired the Longboat Harbour’s St. Patrick’s Day party in March.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: March, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Longboat Observer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
At the Longboat Key Town Commission's statutory meeting Monday, newly appointed Mayor Jim Brown, left, presents outgoing Mayor George Spoll with a plaque that expresses the town’s gratitude for his years of service. Photo by Dora Walters.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 24, 2011
TOP STORY, MARCH: Brown takes mayor's chair

Commissioner Jim Brown becomes mayor for the first time. Commissioner David Brenner is elected as vice mayor.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This file photo shows Midnight Pass, looking to the south.
  • By Jack Gurney
  • December 24, 2011
TOP STORY, MARCH: Midnight Pass dispute moves to federal court

Florida authorities who twice denied Sarasota County permission to restore the Midnight Pass coastal inlet that previously separated Siesta Key from Casey Key may have thought the fight was over. If so, they can think again.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Cate Eschmann, 12, didn't mind getting wet in the dunk tank at McNeal Elementary's Winter Carnival. Published March 3, 2011.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: March, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The East County Observer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 24, 2011
TOP STORY, MARCH: Premier Sports Complex

In March, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch announced the name of its newest amenity as Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Gavin Montisano showed off his muscles in a Spider-Man costume in February at Ashton Elementary’s Kindergartners’ Fairytale Parade.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: February, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Booker High School students gathered to point toward their future: major school renovations that also will unite the campus, ridding it of the Orange Avenue split.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: February, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Pelican Press.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Four major retail businesses are moving into the Palmer Ranch area: Costco, Lowe’s, Kohl’s and Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota. The owners of the Pelican Plaza shopping center are hoping to attract a fifth, by redeveloping the center.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 23, 2011
TOP STORY, FEB.: Ranch Rejuvenation

With four new major retail stores soon to open in the Palmer Ranch area and the search on for a fifth, the south Sarasota community is seeing a surge in business revitalization.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Virginia Tangeman sorts rosaries she made in February at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: February, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Longboat Observer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Robert Siekmann suggested the entire commission review the town’s three pension plans at least twice a month. Photo by Dora Walters.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 23, 2011
TOP STORY FEB.: Commission focuses on pension problem

The commission spent more than three hours Monday discussing the town's increasing unfunded liability in its three pension plans.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
City Hall will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 23, 2011
Sarasota holiday closings

The city of Sarasota's administration offices and City Hall are closed Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2 in observance of the holidays.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Marina Jack's tax-exempt status remains up in the air, pending a lawsuit. Photo by Norman Schimmel
  • By Jack Gurney
  • December 23, 2011
TOP STORY, FEB.: City dragged into Marina Jack tax case

How large a role the City of Sarasota will play in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court property tax lawsuit between Sarasota County Property Appraiser Bill Furst and Marina Jack has yet to be determined, but it has been reluctantly dragged into the fight.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Following in his mother's footsteps, Clayton Rosaire has taken over the traveling portion of the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary. Published Feb. 3, 2011.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: February, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The East County Observer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ivette and Anthony Littlejohn surround their son, Adrian, with positive energy as he undergoes chemotherapy.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 23, 2011
TOP STORY, FEB.: Adrian Littlejohn

Adrian Littlejohn, 1, son of Lakewood Ranch coach Anthony Littlejohn and his wife, Ivette, was diagnosed with AT/RT, a rare pediatric cancer.

  • East County
  • News
Riley Putnam practices her spoon-sticking ability in January at a Church of the Redeemer dinner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: January, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 22, 2011
Five things you didn't know about Victor Fernandez

Victor Fernandez, orchestra director at Booker Middle School, is a finalist for Teacher of the Year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
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.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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