Your Observer

Observer Staff
May 26, 2011

WEEKLY WINNER: Sisterly Bonding

Wayne Magee submitted this sunset photo of his granddaughters, taken on Siesta Key.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Black Tie Staff
May 25, 2011

2011 Lincoln Day Dinner With Special Guest Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum

Black Tie

Robin Roy
May 25, 2011

Ley's resignation accepted

The Sarasota County Commission voted to accept the county administrator's resignation agreement and then nominated a Sarasota County Sheriff's Office official to take the job on an interim basis.

Sarasota
News

Rachel S. OHara
May 25, 2011

PHOTO GALLERY: Phillippi Shores Elementary talent show

Phillippi Shores Elementary students performed a wide variety of talents Wednesday, May 25 during "An Evening With the Stars" Talent Show 2011 at Phillippi Shores Elementary.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
May 25, 2011

VIDEO: Man on the Street - Downtown Parking Meters

The new parking meters are up and running downtown as of Monday, May 23. So how do they work and what do people have to say about them?

Sarasota
News

Kurt Schultheis
May 25, 2011

Longboat task force creates mission statement

The Longboat Key Revitalization Task Force announced its mission statement this week.

Longboat Key
News

Jen Blanco
May 25, 2011

PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River Elementary Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

Braden River Elementary showed its appreciation for its volunteers during its Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast this morning. About 30 volunteers enjoyed pastries, fruit, juice and coffee along with a slide show.

East County
Schools

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Classic Cops of the Day

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

East County
Cops Corner

Kurt Schultheis
May 25, 2011

'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

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Turtle Tracks

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Robin Hartill
May 25, 2011

Medal of Merit

Longboat Key resident Joseph 'Joe' Corben was recognized for his service during World War II with the French Legion of Honor medal.

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
May 25, 2011

Colony Lender acquires ownership share

Colony Lender LLC now possesses a 15% interest in the recreational assets at The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, including the tennis courts.

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
May 25, 2011

Younger presents beach-monitoring data

Commissioner Phillip Younger created charts using beach-monitoring data from the town's beach engineer, Coastal Planning and Engineering, and presented them to the Town Commission earlier this month.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

News Briefs

Board member questions pension report findings; Residents concerned about community center; Diver off Anna Maria Island pronounced dead; and Meetings & agendas.

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
May 25, 2011

Town commissioners consider iPad purchase

The Longboat Key Town Commission will decide whether the town should purchase iPads for commissioners, which would cost taxpayers $4,200.

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
May 25, 2011

Subcommittee compiles list of goals

The Longboat Key Town Commission will review a goals list that a subcommittee placed in the town's Vision Plan for possible implementation. The goals, which were submitted by a wide range of groups and individuals, must be discussed at the 1 p.m. Thursday, May 26 regular workshop.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

OUR VIEW: The rec center dilemma

Longboat Key residents have known for a long time the recreation center at Bayfront Park needs to be replaced. The hard parts are deciding how to pay for improvements and how expansive those improvements should be.

Longboat Key
Opinion

By Gerald Feder
May 25, 2011

MY VIEW: The pension operation can't simply be punted

The notion of punting the town's pension "operation" (whether the firefighters' or all three of the town employees' pension "operations") does not confront the complexity of the issues facing the town with respect to employee benefits.

Longboat Key
Opinion

Kurt Schultheis
May 25, 2011

Longboaters: Be wary of telephone scams

Longboat Key Police Department warns that a floundering economy has spurred several telephone scams that have hit Longboat Key.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Some bunny wants to cool off

This beach bunny was spotted swimming at the sand spit near Jewfish Key.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Longboaters fill up food bank

The third annual Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Food Drive was again a success.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Visiting ladies tip their hats to Save Our Seabirds

The Red Hattitude ladies of Sun City received the royal treatment May 13 during a visit to Save Our Seabirds.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Sharapova shines at Italian Open, readies for French Open

Hideaway Bay resident and former No. 1 tennis player Maria Sharapova clinched a victory at the Italian Open May 15 beating Australian Sam Stosur 6-2, 6-4 for the title.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Photographer snaps picture-perfect pelicans on Longboat's waters

Longboat Key photographer Mary Lou Johnson snapped this beak-iful picture: a trio of pelicans enjoying a day on the water.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Longboat Key Club golf course geese hatch their golden eggs

Technically, these geese are more gray than golden. But we think the newly hatched goslings at the Harbourside golf course look as good as gold.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Enjoy a day (or three) at the beach

Memorial Day weekend is one of the most popular times to enjoy some fun in the sun. Longboat Key has plenty of public beach accesses, although some are tough to spot.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 25, 2011

Cops Corner

200 bock of Gulf of Mexico Drive (GMD). Civil Disturbance. A resort employee told police that a tree-trimming service was cutting down tree limbs in a parking lot and causing sawdust to cover three cars.

Longboat Key
Cops Corner

Dora Walters
May 25, 2011

Surgeon undertakes heartfelt work

Dr. Suzy Steelman, retired general surgeon and Bird Key resident, volunteered to spend a week in March, in the Dominican Republic, working with Hearts Afire, a Christian medical volunteer organization.

Longboat Key
News

Robin Hartill
May 25, 2011

Center of the storm

As a barrier island, Longboat Key is vulnerable to hurricanes, but historically the island has avoided major storm damage.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Robin Hartill
May 25, 2011

Orchid Beach unit sells for $1.65 million

Allen and Christine Ottoson, of Neddick, Maine, sold Unit B904 at the Orchid Beach Residences, 2050 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key, to Mark and Kathy Morrison, of Monroe, Conn., for $1.6 million.

Longboat Key
Real Estate

Robin Hartill
May 25, 2011

April real estate sales summary

The following is a summary of key residential real-estate sales recorded last month at the Sarasota and Manatee county courthouses. Sales data from April 2010 is also listed for comparison.