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Your Observer

    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 18, 2012
Interviews to begin soon for north-end project

The community-based planning effort for the island's north end will incorporate input from stakeholders, students and design professionals. information-gathering phase of a community-based planning effort for the island's north end.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Firefighter/paramedic Jim Reynolds has been a firefighter for 16 years, four-and-a-half of which he has spent on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 18, 2012
Firefighter is engine behind equipment

Firefighter/paramedic Jim Reynolds researches equipment when he isn't handling emergencies - a contribution that helped earn him the 2011 Firefighter of the Year Award.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 18, 2012
Commission gives its two cents

Town staff will ask the commission for direction about how to proceed with a forecasted 15-year shortfall of $4,763,431 in infrastructure surtax revenue.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 18, 2012
Town hopes to cash in on video advertisements

The commission will discuss an advertising model that could help to offset the town's cost of offering live-streaming meetings.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
Bridge crash causes $55,000 in damages

A driver struck a concrete guardrail Wednesday, Jan. 11, on New Pass Bridge, causing approximately $55,000 in damage, according to a Longboat Key police report.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Judy Kepecz-Hays stands in front of The Water Club, where her newest listing — a two-story, 5,300-square-foot residence priced at $4.75 million — is located. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 18, 2012
Kepecz-Hays takes No. 1 slot in 2011

Coldwell Banker's Judy Kepecz-Hays finished the year with sales volume of approximately $45 million, making her the top Sarasota-Manatee Realtor.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
Key Realtors share their 2012 real-estate predictions

The top 10 Longboat Key-based Realtors for 2011 share their predictions of how the real-estate market will fare this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
File photo The Longboat Library opened in 1957 in its original location at the Twin Tarpon Shopping Center, 6350 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • January 18, 2012
Longboat Library campaign seeks to balance books

The Longboat Library will soon begin an awareness campaign about its expenses in hopes of raising support for town funding.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Newly commissioned USMC 2nd lieutenants take the oath of office at the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, Va. Courtesy.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
Our View: Stand up for the honorable

Their act was deplorable. And stupid.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Jim Warnecke made sure to get a hug from his daughter, Brie Middlebrook, who sat in on the presentation with her first-grade class.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
Jim Warnecke makes landfall at Willis Elementary

Lakewood Ranch resident and hurricane hunter Jim Warnecke spoke with Willis Elementary first-graders Jan. 12 about chasing storms with the NOAA.

  • East County
  • News
CDD supervisors last week voted to hire attorney John Harllee as special council.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
Lawsuit filed in CDD debate

Both Stoneybrook Investors LLC, owners of the Stoneybrook Golf Club, and the Lighthouse Cove Condominium Association have served lawsuits to the Heritage Harbour South CDD.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
Sheriff releases few details in Ranch homicide

Manatee detectives now believe Ina Gross' murder was not a random act. However, Manatee Sheriff Brad Steube had not named a suspect as of Jan. 17.

  • East County
  • News
Unit 282 condominium at Grand Bay, 3040 Grand Bay Blvd., has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,143 square feet of living area. It sold for $880,000. File photo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 18, 2012
Grand Bay condo sells for $880,000

Timothy Radigan, of Dunwoody, Ga., sold his Unit 282 condominium at Grand Bay, 3040 Grand Bay Blvd., to Diane Richter, of Louisville, Ky., for $880,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Renderings of the widening project show 12-foot driving lanes and a five-foot sidewalk are part of the improvements.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
FDOT to widen State Road 64

The $12.7 million project will expand State Road 64 to six lanes from Carlton Arms Boulevard to Interstate 75.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 18, 2012
School Board privatizes custodial services

The School Board on Jan. 9 approved privatizing services at four schools, including Braden River Elementary and Haile Middle School. The move is expected to save $160,000.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
Hayes will not seek re-election

District 5 Commissioner Donna Hayes announced she will not run for re-election in November as previously announced.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
Out-of-Door debuts student-directed play

Theater students at The Out-of-Door Academy will perform a student-directed play called 'Paper Candles' Jan. 18-20, in the school's Black Box Theater, 5950 Deer Drive, Sarasota.

  • East County
  • News
Bauhman and Mehraz Badiee hope to resume their work in Iranian politics and human-rights activism once their new business is established.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
Fighting for Freedom

Although Bauhman and Mehraz Badiee, owners of You Say When Yogurt Shoppe in Lakewood Ranch, left their home country of Iran more than 30 years ago, fighting for the freedom of Iranians is still close to their hearts.

  • East County
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
The Courtyards at Market Square is about 21,500 square feet and has about 20 spaces for potential tenants.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
New owner envisions revitalized Courtyards plaza

Courtyards of Market Square manager Al Salem said he expects to attract medical and professional businesses to the plaza.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • January 18, 2012
Observed: Time to take back Lakewood Ranch

I'll be honest: My original idea for this column was to chastise the Manatee County Sheriff's Office about the information - or lack thereof - it released in the days following the murder of Lakewood Ranch resident Ina Gross.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Home Depotshows generosity; SMR's Rex Jensena welcome addition

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • January 18, 2012
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
"It was in my head," River Isles resident Tami Hegge said of the idea for her new book. "It was the experience, really."
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 18, 2012
First-time author honors mom with children's book

Using the story of her own mother, River Isles resident Tami Hegge has authored a children's book about losing a loved one to cancer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Baylor University center Phillip Blake spent part of his morning workout doing step ups on the Keiser Rack.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 18, 2012
NFL prospects come to train at Lakewood Ranch

Athletic Edge Sports Performance Training Center strength and conditioning specialist Mike Gough has been training 21 athletes for the NFL Combine since the beginning of January. The players will continue to train in Lakewood Ranch until the end of February.

  • East County
  • Sports
The 17 members of the Lakewood Ranch Running Club who were inducted into the 1,000-Mile Club now have T-shirts to prove it. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 18, 2012
Club celebrates 1,000 milestones

Seventeen members of the Lakewood Ranch Running Club participated in the club's 1,000-Mile Club, running 1,000-Miles or more in 2011.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jen Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 18, 2012
COMMENT: Polo's intricacies no longer a mystery

As a sports writer and lifelong sports enthusiast, I've been to my share of games and matches.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch senior Haley Martin hopes to play collegiate soccer next year.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 18, 2012
Lakewood Ranch senior Haley Martin instrumental for Lady Mustangs

Lakewood Ranch senior Haley Martin has been instrumental in helping lead the Lady Mustangs to 14-4-2 record and a No. 2 seed in the Class 4A-District 11 tournament.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Dog owners should demonstrate their rights; What you didn't see in the online video

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Read this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Claude Engle lighted Malcolm Robertson’s “Wave 2 Me” sculpture, which is on display at the entrance to the Longboat Key Club and Resort. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 18, 2012
Neighbors: Claude Engle

As a design consultant, Engle helps shed light on some interesting places.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Clyde Butcher: Nature Through the Lens runs through Aug. 31 at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point campus in Nokomis.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • January 18, 2012
Photographer displays natural link to Florida subject matter

Photographer Clyde Butcher started taking photos of the Everglades in order to heal after a drunk driver killed his son.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Join Emily Walsh for the Observer Daily Headlines.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
JAN. 17: Daily Headlines Video

Join us as we observe and report today's stories from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota, and Siesta Key.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
On Jan. 29, St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Music Director Michael Tucci will retire.
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • January 18, 2012
St. Mary music director exits on a high note

Looking back on his eight-and-a-half years as music director at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, Michael Tucci says he has met many wonderful people.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 18, 2012
Michael Edmund Schetter

Michael Edmund Schetter, 63, of Bradenton, died Jan. 8.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Meet this week's athlete of the week, Jeff Casseus.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 18, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Jeff Casseus

Braden River senior Jeff Casseus had a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping lead the Pirates to a 64-44 victory over rival Lakewood Ranch Jan. 11.

  • East County
  • Sports
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