• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Your Observer

    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 23, 2009
County offices to close for holidays

Manatee County government offices will be closed Dec. 24-25 and on Jan. 1.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 23, 2009
Town hires another police officer

Longboat Key Police Chief Al Hogle announced the third police officer hire in eight days.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • December 23, 2009
Party Updates

Democrats socialize at year's last meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2009
Worship Services

Find out local worship service schedules.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • December 23, 2009
Christ Church bestows gifts to special guests

Youngsters from the Bradenton Learning Center were special guests at a Christmas party Dec. 17, at Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2009
Guild features Braden River artist

Work from Braden River High School student artist Katelyn Moran currently is on display at The Artists Guild of Anna Maria Island gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 23, 2009
Lakewood CDDs start 2011 budget discussions

Ranch officials hope to have the 2011 budget nearly finalized by June to avoid confusion.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 23, 2009
Ave Maria assists students with special needs

Parents wishing to use the McKay Scholarship to have their child with learning disabilities start at Ave Maria in January must complete paperwork by Jan. 3.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 23, 2009
OBSERVED: Another year, another traumatic experience

For those of you who are loyal East County Observer readers, this photo may have just given you dejà vu.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 23, 2009
Shape Your Booty: Mission accomplished

Lakewood Ranch Country Club resident Maria Smith met her weight loss goals, dropping 4.5% body fat in the last six weeks.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2009
Building Permits

These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Dec. 11 through Dec. 17, in order of dollar amounts. (GMD = Gulf of Mexico Drive)

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Kent Chetlain
  • December 23, 2009
Key Real Estate

$1.2 million buys Bay Isles home

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2009
Business Observer

Lisa Grossman takes over Margot Walbert's center; FNGLA honors ArtisTree Landscape with awards; The Colony plans events for holiday happenings; and Beth Callans Management presents gifts to Toys for Tots.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 23, 2009
Real Estate Reports

Cheryl McKane joins Longview Realty Inc.; Linda Page becomes member of Top 5 Network; and A Paradise Realty announces its top agents.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 23, 2009
TIME CAPSULE: The Year in Sports 2009

From clutch kicks to championship teams, 2009 was one of the most eventful years in East County sports.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 23, 2009
COLUMN: East sports stars shine in 2009

Sports writer Jen Blanco remembers the people and stories that captured her heart in 2009.

  • East County
  • Sports
  • By Donna Swan
  • December 23, 2009
Deal Us In

Lucky play: The opponents don't always get off to the best lead. Just don't give back any advantage you might have from the opening lead.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 23, 2009
Sunset Silhouette

Find out this week's weather stats with the red tide report, tide chart, moon phases, rainfall, temperature and sunrise/sunset.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 22, 2009
Three contested races confirmed

Vice Mayor Robert Siekmann is the only commissioner who won't be challenged for his seat in March.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 22, 2009
O'Connor questions candidate support

Longboat Key Commissioner Peter O'Connor wants to know if citizens or groups that have taken public positions on the Islandside project can support members of the '¨Town Commission who are facing a re-election challenge.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 22, 2009
Crew girls gain early college acceptance

The University of Virginia, Boston University and the University of California, San Diego, have accepted three Sarasota Crew rowers bound for college in 2010.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 22, 2009
Selby Gardens shimmers at Lights in Bloom

One of Sarasota's brightest holiday traditions is lighting up the night on select dates through Dec. 27.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 22, 2009
Mustang grapplers out dual Pirates

The Lakewood Ranch High varsity wrestling team defeated Braden River 58-13 Dec. 16 while the junior varsity squad shut out the Pirates 70-0.

  • East County
  • Sports
  • By Steve Whidden
  • December 22, 2009
Professional Golf Tips 101

Rosedale Director of Instruction and PGA Professional Steve Whidden offers tips for improving your game.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 22, 2009
High winds damage Saprito Fishing Pier

Weekend weather forces the closure of the pier below the Ringling Bridge.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 21, 2009
Red tide detected on Longboat Key

Concentrations were less than 5,000 Karenia brevis cells per liter.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 21, 2009
Students bite into math lesson

Third-graders in Amy Holland's class learned about measurement by making cookies.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 21, 2009
Oak Park School names new principal

Venice High School Assistant Principal Ronald DiPillo will become the new head of Oak Park School in January 2010.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 21, 2009
Town acquires new ambulance

The town received a new ambulance last week that replaces a 12-year-old model that housed at the north end fire station.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 21, 2009
Homebuilder shows economy on rise

Neal Communities has hired eight new employees in the last quarter of 2009.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 21, 2009
Man arrested in drug-related robbery

Sheriff's deputies arrested Alexander Drecos, 21, on Dec. 18 for pulling a gun on two minors and behaving aggressively toward authorities.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 21, 2009
November real estate sales up 84%

Although the volume of sales is up year-over-year, the median sale price dropped slightly.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2009
Health Matters - Longboat Key & Sarasota

Enjoy The Observer's monthly magazine insert bringing you local, health-related news you can use for people of all ages.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2009
Health Matters - East County

Enjoy The East County Observer's quarterly magazine insert bringing you local, health-related news you can use, for people of all ages.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 18, 2009
Lady Mustangs silence Lady Rams

The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team shut out Riverview 7-0 in non-district action Dec. 17.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 18, 2009
Pipeline project gets under way

The replacement of water pipes along Gulf of Mexico Drive will cause temporary pedestrian and vehicular delays through September 2010.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
« 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
  • December 21, 2025
Letters to Santa carry Christmas wishes and love
2
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
  • December 21, 2025
SMH participates in global bladder cancer treatment clinical trial
4
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
5
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now