Your Observer

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

News Briefs

Lakewood Ranch team to compete in national rodeo; Students improve FCAT writing scores; Society celebrates fourth anniversary; SCF holds 2011 commencement; and Deputies investigate knife-wielding suspect.

East County
News

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Cops Corner

The victim reported his wallet had been stolen while he was at Starbucks.

East County
Cops Corner

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Our view: Right turns in the Legislature

Gov. Rick Scott, a Tallahassee outsider despised in the media and willing to take unpopular stands on principle, had a surprising amount of success during his first legislative session as governor.

East County
Opinion

Adam Hughes
May 11, 2011

Lake Club home tops sales at $1.2 million

A home in Lake Club tops all transactions in this week's real estate. CNLBank sold the home at 7905 Waterton Lane to Thomas Munro of Suffolk, England, for $1.2 million.

East County
Real Estate

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Business Observer

Neal Communities sells 100th home in Central Park; SWAT Networking launches new Lakewood Ranch chapter; Lakewood Ranch home sales continue to climb; Furniture consignment shop to hold grand opening; and Paradise Homes names new vice president.

East County
News

Jen Blanco
May 11, 2011

Walk-off grand slam ends Mustangs season

The Lakewood Ranch baseball team saw its season end with a 9-7 loss to Tampa Jesuit in the Class 4A-Region 3 semifinals May 6.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
May 11, 2011

ALL HEART

The Braden River High softball team saw its historic season come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Harmony in the Class 4A state semifinals.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
May 11, 2011

Littlejohn boy inspires Mustangs

In track and field, your legs are undoubtedly your greatest assets. So what happens when your legs let you down?

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
May 11, 2011

OBSERVER TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Riley Neale

Each week, The East County Observer will introduce one player from the Lakewood Ranch Little League Observer team.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
May 11, 2011

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Brianna Maxa

Braden River senior Brianna Maxa hit a RBI triple with two outs in the top of the 11th inning, propelling the Lady Pirates to a 1-0 victory over Barron Collier in the Class 4A-Region 3 finals May 3.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
May 11, 2011

Lady Mustangs take home hardware

The Lakewood Ranch High girls 3,200-meter relay team finished second at the Class 3A state meet May 6 in Winter Park. Olivia Ortiz and Devin McDermott also captured individual medals.

East County
Sports

Kurt Schultheis
May 11, 2011

Whitney Beach owner welcomes modifications

The Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board reduced a proposed height modification for Whitney Beach Plaza from five stories to four stories.

Longboat Key
News

Robin Hartill
May 11, 2011

Demographic makeup

According to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 67.3% of Longboat residents were 65 or older as of April 2010.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

News Briefs

Commission schedules beach meeting; Village peacocks deemed sanitary; Retirement center concept gains traction; Meetings and Agendas.

Longboat Key
News

Robin Roy
May 11, 2011

Circle to see stricter code enforcement

The city will send a code enforcement officer to St. Armands Circle once a month to catch violations of the city code, such as cafe tables on the sidewalk and excessive business signs.

Longboat Key
News

Kurt Schultheis
May 11, 2011

Resident hedges his bets against grass issue

A Longboat Key resident thinks the 20-foot-tall bamboo stalks beside his home are not a hedge and should be trimmed to adhere to the town's grass-height code.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Our View: Right turns in the Legislature

Gov. Rick Scott, a Tallahassee outsider despised in the media and willing to take unpopular stands on principle, had a surprising amount of success during his first legislative session as governor.

Longboat Key
Opinion

By Rod Thomson
May 11, 2011

Purchase audit a wise precaution

Considering all that is unfolding in Sarasota County government - its reputation firmly stained by scandal - Town Manager Bruce St. Denis is smart to be conducting a purchasing audit of his operation.

Longboat Key
Opinion

Kurt Schultheis
May 11, 2011

Town creates wildlife nuisance brochure

The town of Longboat Key has created a brochure called "A Citizen's Guide to Nuisance Wildlife," in an attempt to inform residents how to keep critters away from their neighborhoods.

Longboat Key
News

Dora Walters
May 11, 2011

Volunteers make clean sweep on Sister Keys

The third annual Sarasota Bay Watch Sister Keys Cleanup was Saturday, May 7.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Turtle Tracks

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

St. Mary holds crowning event

The St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Women's Guild celebrated Mother's Day with its annual crowning ceremony of the blessed Virgin Mary statue after Sunday Mass.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Poinciana bloom is sign of spring

It seems as if the Key is always in bloom. Early spring brings the gold trees covered with bright yellow flowers.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Nattily-dressed man about town

Thomas Quigley wore his "lucky suit" Saturday, May 7, at the Kentucky Derby party at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Garden Club recognizes dedicated members

Virginia Sanders was recently recognized by the Longboat Key Garden Club for 20 years of dedication to the organization and to environmental issues.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Longbeach Village Association says goodbye for summer

Frank O'Brien was installed as president of the Longbeach Village Association May 5, at a meeting held at the home of past President Michael Drake.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Couple celebrates 63 years together

Margot and Warren Coville celebrated their 63rd anniversary April 18.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Robin Hartill
May 11, 2011

OBITUARY: Robert 'Bob' Twyman

Robert "Bob" Twyman, 88, was a former Longboat Key commissioner.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Kurt Schultheis
May 11, 2011

Firefighter contract agreement tentative

The town will still count overtime and sick leave as a final pension payout in a fire department contract that expires on Sept. 30.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
May 11, 2011

Cops Corner

A man was pulled over after police determined the car he was driving was stolen. The driver told police he was the owner of the car and that it had been recovered three weeks ago.

Longboat Key
Cops Corner

Robin Hartill
May 11, 2011

Recent sellers of $12.5 million home purchase $2.4 million L'Ambiance unit

Herbert and Sandra Moss, of Elkins Park, Pa., sold Unit A-401 at 415 L'Ambiance Drive in the 145-unit L'Ambiance, located behind the Islandside gates of the Longboat Key Club and Resort, to Siegfried and Eva Schulte, of Rochester Hills, Mich., for $2.4 million.