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Your Observer

Hurricane Irene's projected path on Aug. 21.
  • By Susan Phillips
  • August 31, 2011
My View: Irene should be a wake-up call for us

By this time, we've all witnessed the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene, which made landfall rated as a Category 1 storm.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 31, 2011
Balloon must fly before cell-tower plan can fly

It's a bird ... It's a plane ... It's ... a balloon flying from the steeple of Longboat Island Chapel as part of a Planning Zoning & Building application.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cedars Tennis Resort & Fitness Club renovations were completed in 2009. Courtesy Photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 31, 2011
Colony Contenders: Arendee Colony

The Longboat Key-based company is one of four finalists for the redevelopment of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 31, 2011
Bed-tax figures suggest Key is getting sleepier

Longboat Key is getting sleepier, according to the latest bed-tax collection figures. The island's share of collections of tourist development taxes - which are paid on rentals of less than six months - is down compared to other communities in both Sarasota and Manatee counties for the most recent nine months for which figures are available.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
News Briefs

Commission to discuss live-stream videos; No garbage pickup on Labor Day

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 31, 2011
Burglaries, larcenies down on Longboat Key

The official statistics for the first six months of 2011 show a drop in many types of property crimes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Our View: Good budget, bad pensions

The Longboat Key Town Commission's first of its final budget hearings is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 12. It should be mostly uneventful.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Cops Corner: Longboat

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner,

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Buffett gives a "kiss" through the glass.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 31, 2011
Mote researchers study manatees 'Hugh' and 'Buffett'

Hugh and Buffett are known for being large lettuce-eating mammals that many visitors to Mote Marine Laboratory make sure to see.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
David Johnson submitted this sunset photo, taken on Anna Maria Island.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Weekly Winner Riding the Current

David Johnson submitted this sunset photo, taken on Anna Maria Island.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 31, 2011
Voters: No city yet

Results released Aug. 29 showed 56.5% of Lakewood Ranch residents who responded opposed moving forward with incorporation.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Ballet school to host auditions

The School of Russian Ballet will host auditions for its production of 'The Nutcracker' Sept. 3, at the school, 8029 Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 31, 2011
Ranch CDDs approve new budgets

Supervisors in Community Development District 2 will move forward with a pilot landscaping program rather than saving money for potential security enhancements.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • August 31, 2011
Alliance, Observer announce finalists

The winners will be announced at the Sandies corporate awards dinner Oct. 5, at The Polo Grill and Bar's Fête Ballroom.

  • East County
  • News
Welder Bob Bauman, of All Phases Welding & Fabrication, works on a floor joist bracket. Bauman has been welding for 23 years — even performing the job while serving in the U.S. Navy.
  • By Jen Blanco and Pam Eubanks
  • August 31, 2011
PHOTO SPECIAL: Love for Laborers

These are the men and women who never see themselves in the newspaper. These are the ones who, with their hands and sweat equity, keep the East County community and its residents functioning. They, collectively, are our backbone. This year, the East County Observer celebrates Labor Day as more than just a day off. We salute those who truly deserve a day of rest the most, and we thank you for all your hard work.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 31, 2011
Premier expects 20,000 for cup

The Clearwater Chargers and the Fusion Futbol Club will host the Nike Cup Labor Day Showcase Sept. 3-5, at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River quarterback Steven Ross connected with his brother, wideout Justin Ross, for the Pirates’ first score in the Kickoff Classic Aug. 26 against Booker. Photos by Jen and Brian Blanco.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 31, 2011
Braden River Pirates set sail

The Braden River Pirates held the Booker Tornadoes to one touchdown to secure a 17-6 victory in their Kickoff Classic Aug. 26.

  • East County
  • Sports
Dave Fuchs captured these clouds in River Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Weekly Winner: Silver-lined sky

Dave Fuchs captured these clouds in River Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • August 31, 2011
Castaway

Enjoy this week's edition of 'The Castaway'.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Rod Thomson, Editorial Pages Editor
  • By Rod Thomson
  • August 31, 2011
My View: Bachmann resonates at local visit

Sitting across the table from Michele Bachman, the first thing you notice is that she is not the wild-eyed nut job that she is portrayed as in the mainstream media.

  • Sarasota
  • News
John Lee, 50, suffered a broken rib, a separated shoulder, a partially collapsed lung and multiple contusions on his face.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • August 31, 2011
My View: Beating recalls own enraged confrontation

Reports asked John Lee, as he lay bloodied, questions about the attack. My first question was different: Have you spoken to your son?

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Our View: Civic-mindedness wins

With the results of the straw poll showing Lakewood Ranch residents really do not want to incorporate as a city at this time - at least those who voted in the poll - the issue is dead.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Alex Runde
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 31, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Alex Runde

Seventeen-year-old Alex Runde was selected to play with the Philadelphia Phantoms, an adult club lacrosse team, during the Allan Cup Indoor Lacrosse Festival Aug. 20, in Hatfield, Pa.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 31, 2011
Riverdale home tops weekly real estate sales

A home in Riverdale Revised tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Gary Bunch, Palmetto, sold his home at 555 Fore Drive to Charles and Wendy Miller, Bradenton, for $560,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Peter Crowley, president of RE/MAX Alliance Group.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 31, 2011
Real Estate Reports

John Smith joins Michael Saunders & Co. St. Armands office; Re/Max Alliance Group launches its monthly report of local real-estate market

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
  • By Donna Swan
  • August 31, 2011
Deal Us In: It's all in how you read the bid

When Debra Smith of Ocala sent me this hand with the bidding at her table, I knew it was best that I was not her partner sitting North.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day

Enjoy a classic Cops Corner entry from the East County Observer archives.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 31, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: Sarasota

Enjoy a classic Cops Corner entry from the Sarasota Observer archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Tropical Storm Katia continues to gain strength in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, according to a 5 p.m. report from the National Weather Service Hurricane Center.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 30, 2011
Katia not currently a threat to Longboat

The tropical storm is gaining strength but current projections call for the storm to stay away from the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 30, 2011
District 1 launches search for new contractor

Because of a lawsuit, supervisors on Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 1 have voted to reject current landscape maintenance bids and to seek new proposals.

  • East County
  • News
The two corn hole tournaments will raise funds for Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Animal Sanctuary.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 30, 2011
Biker group helps big cats

The Gulf Coast Diva Angels are sponsoring corn hole tournaments to benefit Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Animal Sanctuary.

  • East County
  • News
The home at 5940 Emerald Harbor Drive has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,788 square feet of living area. It sold for $627,500. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 30, 2011
An Emerald Harbor home sells for $627,500

Sandra Drell, of Vilas, Wis., sold her home at 5940 Emerald Harbor Drive to David Jones and Susan McVeigh-Jones, of Newtown Square, Pa., for $627,500.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 30, 2011
County hosts land-use meeting

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will consider several land-use proposals at their Sept. 1 meeting.

  • East County
  • News
The Florida Alliance Soccer League finished second at the Liverpool-Knowsley International Soccer Tournament July 23 through Aug. 2 in England.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 30, 2011
East County youth soccer players compete in England

Thirteen-year-olds Liam Bramley and Christian Womeldorph competed in the Liverpool-Knowsley International Soccer Tournament July 23 through Aug. 2 in England.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 30, 2011
Obituary: Marie Barr

Marie Barr, of Sarasota, and formerly of Highland Park, Ill., and Bennington, Vt., died Aug. 28. She was 88.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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