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Your Observer

Spc. 4 Patrick Lay II graduated from Braden River High School in 2008 as part of the school’s first graduation class. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2011
Spc. 4 Patrick Lay II: Everyone's Hero

Against a sky painted in shades of blue, pink and orange, vehicles parked along a sidewalk lined with miniature American flags along 44th Drive East in the Wallingford subdivision.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Station 400 Chef/Owner Eric Bein hopes to open his new Lakewood Ranch location on or before Nov. 1.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2011
Train-inspired eatery chugs into Serving Spoon space

Station 400 owner Eric Bein will put his spin on the space formerly occupied by The Serving Spoon on Ranch Main.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2011
Manatee planners endorse new commercial project

The Manatee County Planning Commission has recommended the approval of a 21,800-square-foot commercial center on State Road 64 in Lakewood.

  • East County
  • News
2011 Football Preview
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 17, 2011
Football Preview 2011: Rivalries Redrawn

After the Florida High School Athletic Association introduced new district classifications earlier this year, Braden River, Lakewood Ranch and The Out-of-Door Academy all will face new opponents when the regular season officially kicks off Sept. 2.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River wide receiver Troy Gatling showed vast improvement over the course of the offseason and is expected to be one of the Pirates’ top offensive threats.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 17, 2011
Football Preview: Braden River Pirates

The Braden River High football team learned the value of teamwork Aug. 10-13 during its trip to Warren Willis Camp in Fruitland Park.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 17, 2011
Football Preview: Lakewood Ranch Mustangs

Lakewood Ranch will rely on the strength and experience of its offensive line, which boasts five seniors and two juniors, to carry the team this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Seniors Tucker Kittle, Jack Cannon, Grant McCarthy, Sam Kimmell, Brian Ragone and Christos Eraclides have all been playing for ODA since they were in seventh-grade.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 17, 2011
Football Preview: Out-of-door Academy Thunder

Six years ago, The Out-of-Door Academy football team called a Pop Warner field home. Now, with a new stadium on campus and the support of family, friends and the community, the Thunder is prepared to leave a lasting legacy.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Meetings & Agendas

This week's meetings & agendas

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Three hundred fifty tickets were sold last year for the car raffle. File photo.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 17, 2011
Kiwanians dish out new name, place for St. Jude luncheon

Say goodbye to the St. Jude Gourmet Luncheon and hello to the Longboat Key Gourmet Food Fest.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Lido Pool is open daily except for Mondays. Passes to use the pool can be purchased daily, seasonally or annually. Photo by Rachel S. O’Hara.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 17, 2011
Lido Pool marked as revenue generator

As an alternative to closing the Lido Pool and pavilion, Lido Key residents are formulating a plan for the city to derive income from the underutilized community asset.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Jorge Blanco
  • August 17, 2011
Castaway

Enjoy this week's Castaway cartoon.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
A Google overhead view of the existing Publix parking lot. Note the trees. Below: The first draft of the proposed parking lot. Expect a revised draft that restores more trees and landscaping.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Our View: The next Publix plan is a good one

As development goes on Longboat Key, a developer and property owner's first drawings and plans never make it to the finish line unscathed or without modification.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Letters to the Editor: 08.18.11

Pay cuts for Congress and all federal workers; Kudos to Robin Hartill on her new appointment; Longboat Key is no place for cell phone towers

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Cops Corner: Longboat

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 17, 2011
P&Z pulls forward with traffic talks

Is Gulf of Mexico Drive really that important? Longboaters probably think so.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Arends
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 17, 2011
Arends remembered as voice of the Village

The Longbeach Village is lined with coconut palm trees. The foliage is the result of John "Dutch" Martin Arends' efforts. His longstanding work with the Longboat Key Garden Club led the club to donate the trees to the Village.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
News Briefs

GreyHawk supervisor cleared of ethics complaint; Mega-church buys more Ranch property; Town Hall to host irrigation presentation; Schools gear up with open house events; Manatee County Jail earns re-accreditation

  • East County
  • News
Chef de Cuisine Aaron Chavaria holds up a spoonful of the citrus tomato confit.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 17, 2011
Chefs prepare elegant food at Sands Pointe

Preparation for dinner service at the Longboat Key Club's Sands Pointe restaurant begins well before the evening rush.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Unit 403 condominium at Veinte, 2675 Gulf of Mexico Drive, has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,896 square feet of living area. It sold for $644,400. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 17, 2011
Bird Key home sells for $1.8 million

Isaac Zamora, Sarasota, sold his home at 105 N. Warbler Lane to Thomas Gardner and Barbara Vanderkolk Gardner, Sarasota, for $1.8 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • August 17, 2011
Business Observer

Key Club announces new director of finance

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 17, 2011
Real Estate Reports

Coldwell Banker NRT recognizes seven Longboat Key agents; Simon Group joins St. Armands MS&Co. office; Coldwell Banker Longboat Key announces July stats

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
  • By Donna Swan
  • August 17, 2011
Deal Us In: Opening bid shows vulnerability

The vulnerability makes an opening bid by the dealer a good choice. Having the 4-4-4-1 distribution, most North players will open the hand one diamond. Once the heart fit is found, North will bid the game.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ron Johnson took this sunset photo in the 4800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive during a turtle nest opening.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Weekly Winner: Turtle Time

Ron Johnson took this sunset photo in the 4800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive during a turtle nest opening.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Cops Corner: East County

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
The Windsor’s Regional Director of Operations Lorrie Britton said the new facility will offer tailored services to residents, including medication assistance, assistance with bathing, dressing, personal hygiene and other issues, and more.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2011
Windsor expansion in progress

The facility will open a new memory care community next spring.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Rev. Mark Campbell and his wife, April, say the complex will allow Bible Baptist Church to introduce several new programs.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2011
Bible Baptist Church secures new property

The East County church has signed a five-year-lease for the John H. Marble Recreation Complex, better known as the old YMCA building on State Road 70.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club members Joe Weber, Chris Perkins, John Freeman and Laurie Hagberg toured The Food Bank warehouse the day the donation was received.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 17, 2011
Lakewood Rotarians help stamp out hunger

The Rotary Club of Lakewood last week donated $3,000 in food to the Food Bank of Manatee. However, the bank is still short on non-perishable food supplies.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
NFL legend Terry Bradshaw purchased this 3,882-square-foot home at 19463 Beacon Park Place sold for $1.22 million. Photo by Pam Eubanks.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 17, 2011
Two Concession homes each sell for $1.22M

Two homes in Concession top the transactions in this week's real estate. Quality Properties Asset Management Company sold the homes at 19459 and 19463 Beacon Park Place to NFL legend Terry Bradshaw, of Thackerville, Okla., for $1.22 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Karol Borkowski took this sunset photo from her backyard in the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Weekly Winner: Beautiful Backdrop

Karol Borkowski took this sunset photo from her backyard in the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Rod Thomson
  • By Rod Thomson
  • August 17, 2011
My View: Let's all go Follywood!

The lemming-like rush to try to lure Hollywood filmmakers to Sarasota and Manatee counties is costly, ineffective and a little embarrassing.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Our View: County is one for two

Manatee County commissioners got one of the toughest decisions right in the budget for next year. They kept the property tax rate flat. Or so it appears. That will not be official until the final rate is approved in September.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 17, 2011
Classic Cops of the Day: East County

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

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Crews plugged the leaking pipe at 10:30 p.m. Monday.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 16, 2011
UPDATE: Broken pipe sends sewage into Hudson Bayou

A leak at an Osprey Avenue construction site was sealed Monday night, but not before about 200 gallons of raw sewage reaches Hudson Bayou.

  • Sarasota
  • News
President Andrew Vac speaks to the members of the Circle Association Tuesday, Aug., 16 at Tommy Bahama Restaurant.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • August 16, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Circle Association holds breakfast at Tommy Bahama

Members of Circle Association got together for their monthly meeting at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Tommy Bahama Restaurant.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lynn Larson represents District 1 on the Longboat Key Town Commission.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • August 16, 2011
Larson to run for re-election

Longboat Key Commissioner Lynn Larson will seek a second term in March 2012.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lido Key residents want to come up with revenue-generating ideas for the Lido pool.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 16, 2011
Lido residents present pool plan

To fight a city proposal to shut down the pool for up to six months of the offseason, Lido Key citizens have come up with a list of goals to reach to keep the pool open all year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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