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Your Observer

Monica Simpson resigned from her position as Longboat Key Planning Zoning & Building Director in a Dec. 2 letter to interim Town Manager David Bullock.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
Simpson resigns as P&Z director

Planning Zoning & Building Director Monica Simpson resigned from her position after an investigation that ran a month-and-a-half but will continue to do consulting work for the town.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Publix will hold a community workshop to display its plans and renderings for the proposed project.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
P&Z to check out Publix plans

Planning & Zoning Board will discuss next week Publix's request for outline-development plan and site-plan approval.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
L'Ambiance, Sanctuary dismiss Key Club de novo challenge

Attorney Robert Lincoln says that the case will move forward with IPOC as the single plaintiff, but Key Club attorney John Patterson believes that the dismissal raises issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
St. Denis returns 401(k) contribution

The former town manager agreed to return a 401(k) match of $10,365.79 after commissioners questioned the payment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
News Briefs

Mote seeks part-time residents for study; Town files amended Armstrong complaint; Commission approves ordinances; Commission approves budget transfer for bonuses

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Patricia Ostroski
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
SEASON OF SHARING: Patricia Ostroski

Patricia Ostroski is spreading health and wealth. In 2008, Ostroski started teaching a weekly yoga class at Bayport Beach and Tennis Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The words "SUR 13" and "SOTA 941 County" were written in graffiti on New Pass Bridge. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
New Pass graffiti could be gang-related

Police found graffiti that appears to be connected to a local gang, but, according to Police Chief Al Hogle, gang activity is a rarity on the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The town should swap the two parcels next to Pattigeorges to get a community center.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Our View: Community center: Act III

Rather than let that 9,400-square-foot restaurant property continue to sit empty and deteriorate, it could be converted to a community center and perhaps satisfy the vision of creating town-center activities clustered around Publix.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Cell phone coverage is a matter of life or death; Town should mediate in Jim Armstrong case; Christmas bonus with tax dollars is wrong; Beer Can Island could be option for cell tower

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
George Rauch, Longboat Key, is chief executive officer of Bradenton-based General Propeller and a former Wall Street investment banker.
  • By George Rauch
  • December 7, 2011
Market Watch: Dollars and no sense equals indebted mess

A little more than three years ago, in March 2008, the U.S. national debt was $9.4 trillion. In the 925 days since then, our national debt has risen to almost $15 trillion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Betty Huston
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Neighbors: Betty Huston

Everyone whom 94-year-old Betty Huston passes while riding her three-wheel bike from Twin Shores to Publix gives her a wave.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
LECOM School of Dental Medicine
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2011
SPECIAL REPORT: East County's most expensive construction

In Sarasota and Manatee counties, 41 construction permits for more than $1 million have been pulled in the past year. Of those, about one-fourth are in the East County.

  • East County
  • News
The new plaque stands near the fountain on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 7, 2011
Ranch Community Fund unveils Founders' 50 plaque

The plaque on Lakewood Ranch Main Street recognizes donors who have established permanent charitable funds dedicated to Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance has endorsed Vanessa Baugh for District 5 Manatee County commissioner
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2011
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance endorse county, state politicians

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance has endorsed its first set of candidates for the 2012 elections.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2011
Gateway plaza gets new owners

ICORR International recently took over the Gateway to the Ranch Plaza on State Road 70.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
News Briefs

Braden River honors veterans, seeks sponsorships; Ranch CDDs plan capital improvement project timeline; Travelers sustain injuries in I-75 accident

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Our view: Ranch needs one senator

Redistricting must be one of the more thankless tasks for lawmakers. It is rife with political intrigue and the appearance of political intrigue.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
Castaway

Read this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Rod Thomson
  • By Rod Thomson
  • December 7, 2011
My View: Time to balance the field

Although it will appear as piling on, the Legislature is going to have to look at the health insurance programs of state workers in the next session.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Stand up be counted on school spending

  • East County
  • Opinion
Construction on the Reflections building is about one-third complete.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2011
Construction of memory care facility prompts celebration

Officials of Windsor Senior Living celebrated the construction of the company's new memory care residence during a special ceremony Nov. 30.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The East Manatee Bulldog Junior Midget cheerleading squad has surpassed all of coach Jennifer Kirlangitis' expectations this season.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
Bulldog cheerleaders rally to national championships

The East Manatee Bulldog Junior Midget cheerleading squad participated in the small novice division of the 2011 Pop Warner National Cheer & Dance Championships Dec. 7, at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

  • East County
  • Sports
Peggy Kunkle learned the game of golf from her husband. She has had 11 holes-in-one in her career.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
River Club golfer sinks two holes-in-one

Peggy Kunkle hit a pair of aces in a span of four days.

  • East County
  • Sports
Associate Editor Jen Blanco proudly wore her own Bulldog cheerleading uniform. Courtesy of Mom.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
COMMENT: Memories from my cheer championship

As I walked onto the football field to interview the East Manatee Bulldogs Junior Midget cheerleading squad, a rush of nostalgia overcame me.

  • East County
  • Sports
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Stuart Dalgleish, photo by Mallory Gnaegy.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 7, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Stuart Dalgleish

Stuart Dalgleish has been riding a bike since he was 9 years old - for six decades. He has been riding on a daily basis since he retired in 2006.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
JUST THE STATS

3 - Number of matches the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center Women's USTA 6.5 Combo doubles teams won Friday, Nov. 18.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Unit 3B1 at Vizcaya, 2399 Gulf of Mexico Drive, has two bedrooms, three baths and 3,238 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.25 million. File photo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 7, 2011
Vizcaya condo sells for $2.25 million

Laurie Champion, Boston, sold her Unit 3B1 condominium at Vizcaya, 2399 Gulf of Mexico Drive, to Alan and Constance Herbert, of Barrington, Ill., for $2.25 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2011
REAL ESTATE REPORTS

Roger Pettingell reaches Legends Society; The Curp Group joins Coldwell Banker's Longboat Key office; Engel & Völkers closes seven Bradenton Beach units

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
  • By Brian Gunnell
  • December 7, 2011
Bridge Bites: Wrong question

Once North opens the bidding it is hard for South to stay out of slam. Not that it's a bad slam, but it does require a little bit of luck in one or both of the major suits. But good players make their own luck!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
John Caviglia submitted this sunrise photo, taken at the Longboat Key Club Moorings.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Weekly Winner: Vantage Point

John Caviglia submitted this sunrise photo, taken at the Longboat Key Club Moorings.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Russell Bolingbroke and his fiancee, Lauren Flenniken, are gymnastics instructors at Kids Supergym in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
CELEBRATIONS: Head over heels

Kids Supergym coach Russell Bolingbroke proposed to fellow coach Lauren Flenniken Nov. 22. The couple plans marry in May 2013.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sylvia McNichol took this photo on a foggy morning at the Sarasota Polo Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 7, 2011
Weekly Winner: Limited Visibility

Sylvia McNichol took this photo on a foggy morning at the Sarasota Polo Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This Waterlefe Golf and River Club home, which has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,879 square feet of living area, sold for $530,000. Photo by Jen Blanco.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 7, 2011
Waterlefe home tops this week's sales at $530,000

A home in Waterlefe Golf and River Club tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Van Lilly, St. Augustine, sold the home at 10412 Winding Stream Way to Guenter and Heidi Klark, Bradenton, for $530,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Meet this week's athlete, Skylar Jungers
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 7, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Skylar Jungers

Twelve-year-old forward Skylar Jungers recorded a hat trick to lead The Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer team to 4-1 victory over Bayshore Dec. 1. It was the seventh-grader's first hat trick while playing for the Lady Thunder. Here is an inside look at this week's Athlete of the Week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate and Miss DeSoto Heritage Festival Ellie Ohlman spoke to fifth-grade students at Braden River Elementary School today about the importance of community service.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Youth in Service

Lakewood Ranch High School graduate and Miss DeSoto Heritage Festival Ellie Ohlman spoke to fifth-grade students at Braden River Elementary School today about the importance of community service.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

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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.
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Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
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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.
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East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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