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Your Observer

The beach wedding between Dowden and his new bride, Jo-Jo Dodd, lasted an hour. The wedding party and guests celebrated at the Lazy Lobster restaurant afterward.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Mother officiates at son's wedding

Dorothy Williams, president of the Tiffany Plaza Condominium Association, received her Justice of the Peace certification last week after her son, Bryant Dowden, told her of his plans of getting married on his parents' 25-year wedding anniversary, Aug. 16. The certification course took about three hours.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 24, 2011
Police get break in Key vehicle burglary cases

A man has been arrested and charged with recent vehicle burglaries on Longboat Key and Holmes Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The recent beach renourishment project deposited more than white sand on Beer Can Island.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 24, 2011
Manatee pares patrol funds

The Manatee County Commission gave the town less than half of the $76,500 it requested for ongoing marine-patrol operations.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Prudential Palms Realty founder and CEO Helen Sosso
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 24, 2011
Prudential Palms closes office

Real-estate broker Helen Sosso will close five Prudential Palms Realty offices to reduce costs.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Coral Hospitality oversaw management of the Sandpearl Resort, in Clearwater Beach, after its development in 2005. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 24, 2011
Colony Contenders: Coral Hospitality

The Naples-based company is a finalist for the redevelopment of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 24, 2011
Hurricane Irene to blow past Longboat

The town prepared for the wrath of Hurricane Irene by checking power generators, ordering fuel and instructing employees to implement a personal hurricane plan in case they would be needed for emergency duties.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 24, 2011
Longboat lull: the final days of August

The last days of August are often the slowest days on Longboat Key. But, on occasion, more than just the temperature heats up for the dog days of summer.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
News Briefs

Duncan proposes Code Enforcement workshop; B.J. Webb elected to USTA foundation board; Legislature to hold redistricting hearing

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Our View: The real charter debate

The Sarasota County Charter certainly doesn't register as a nerve-twinger on Longboat Key like, say, installing a cell tower on the north end of the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Painter, author, illustrator, mother, wife, community activist — Longboater Lynn Armstrong Coffin identifies with all of those titles.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • August 24, 2011
Lynn Coffin: Painter, author, illustrator, mother wife, community activist

Coffin's latest endeavor since her son, Mikael, was born in 1983, is writing and illustrating children's books.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 24, 2011
Phoebe Yi introduces her culture to BRHS

Teacher Phoebe Yi, of China, is eager to teach students at Braden River High School her language and culture this year.

  • East County
  • News
Two Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts will be doing business with a new landscape contractor starting Oct. 1.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 24, 2011
CDDs change landscape contractor

Lakewood Ranch CDDs 4 and 5 soon will contract with Down to Earth for landscaping services.

  • East County
  • News
Prudential Palms Realty President and CEO Helen Sosso said she will trim her business to about 80 agents. File photo.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 24, 2011
Lakewood Prudential still open for business

Real estate broker Helen Sosso will close five Prudential Palms Realty offices to reduce costs. Her Lakewood Ranch venture remains open.

  • East County
  • News
Submit your wildlife photos to Managing Editor Michael Eng, meng@yourobserver.com.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Ranch residents fawn over fawn

Country Club of Lakewood Ranch residents Bob and Karol Borkowski caught a glimpse of this precious fawn tucked into the base of a blooming plumbago.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Residents donned their bathing suits and goggles and jumped into the pool at Stoneybrook Golf Club to watch “Flight of the Navigator.”
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Heritage Harbour enjoys poolside flick

It's not everyday you can enjoy a movie and a dip in the pool at the same time. But for some lucky families in Heritage Harbour, that's exactly what happened Aug. 19.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Cliff Collins submitted this sunset photo, taken on Anna Maria Island.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Weekly Winner: Captivating Coral

Cliff Collins submitted this sunset photo, taken on Anna Maria Island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Jim Brown
  • August 24, 2011
Town staff hard at work on Key developments

Contrary to what same may think, the Town Commission and staff are working diligently to ensure Publix and other developments are right for Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Letters to the Editor

Keep dogs off the beaches

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Cops Corner: Longboat

Enjoy this week's Cops Corner

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Courtesy photo Gillian Thornton, daughter of owner Gary Thornton, after whom the shop is named, sits in front of the store during its grand opening in July.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 24, 2011
Business Observer

Gillian's now on the map of St. Armands Circle; Tennis Gardens among finalists for EDC Hall of Fame; Longboat Key Club to hold job fair for various positions

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Kellie Holohan, 14, took this sunset photo from her backyard in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Weekly Winner: Amber Rays

Kellie Holohan, 14, took this sunset photo from her backyard in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
East County residents Kay and Carmen Rizzo, owners of Carmen’s Italian Cafe, are thrilled to have Luigi back at their restaurant after he was taken during business hours one night in April.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 24, 2011
Luigi Rizzo returns home after kidnapping

After being tortured and kidnapped and taking a ride in a police car, Luigi Rizzo finally is safe at his home at Carmen's Italian Cafe.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Joseph Sumner
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 24, 2011
Palm-Aire welcomes new club manager

Joseph Sumner will start as the Palm-Aire Country Club's general manager and chief operating officer Sept. 1.

  • East County
  • News
Rep. Steube
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
News Briefs

Straw poll tabulation begins despite concerns; Back-to-School Splash Bash returns to Lakewood; Manatee offers financial aid for seniors' energy bills; Rep. Steube to host open house

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Cops Corner: East County

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • August 24, 2011
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Rod Thomson
  • August 24, 2011
My View: Privatization future is here

The future for local government operations is to privatize or outsource a whole lot more functions than is currently thought reasonable.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Our View: Sensible wetlands changes

Manatee County is taking steps in the right direction in tweaking its wetlands protection ordinances, following the reasonable goal of creating certainty for property owners and potential property owners.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Letter to the Editor

Ranch growth shows no need to incorporate

  • East County
  • News
Christine and Ryan Roman welcomed their daughter, Giavanna Jayne Nicole Roman, to the world Aug. 6, 2011.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 24, 2011
Man, paralyzed by cancer, celebrates daughter's birth

Ryan Roman didn't know if he'd be alive to see the birth of his daughter,Giavanna. Now, he can't wait to see what the future holds for her.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Seniors Brian Ragone and Zach Hoppe are eager to sport their new Nike uniforms.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 24, 2011
Out-of-Door Academy inks Nike partnership

ODA announced a three-year partnership with Nike during a press conference Aug. 19. ODA also announced the addition of four new head coaches as well as new lacrosse programs.

  • East County
  • Sports
Madelyn Myre served ‘stone soup’ to her mother, Lisa.
  • By Sharon Frank
  • August 24, 2011
Primrose serves up kitchen fun

Kids at Primrose School's Camp Primrose shared some homemade recipes with parents at the camp's 'Dig, Stir, Chomp!' session last week. After honing their cooking skills with author Suzanne Beecher, the kids served 'stone soup' based on a popular children's book.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota Youth Opera singers perform in a fully staged production of Judith Weir’s "The Black Spider." Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 24, 2011
Scene & Heard

Future opera stars wanted; Key Chorale casting seasoned singers; Golden Apple submits nonprofit application; Players Theatre names festival winner

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tyler Michael Lennox was born to Aberdeen residents Laura Eslinger-Lennox and Michael Lennox at 1:23 p.m. Aug. 9, 2011.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 24, 2011
Birth Announcements 08.25.11

Congratulations to the East County parents who celebrated recent births.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The home at 573 Gunwale Lane has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,124 square feet of living area. It sold for $740,000. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 24, 2011
Country Club Shores home sells for $740,000

Joyce Lamson-Scribner and PNC Bank, N.A., trustees, Alan Willens and Kathy Willens sold the home at 573 Gunwale Lane to William and Lynn Cook, of White Plains, N.Y., for $740,000. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,124 square feet of living area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Josh Escher began taking martial arts at 5 years old. He also is a deputy with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 24, 2011
Ranch attracts new athletic schools

The House of Pain Martial Arts Academy opened Aug. 1, while Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics will open Sept. 6.

  • East County
  • Sports
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