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Your Observer

    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 16, 2009
Parking garage builders present vision

Two downtown groups vote to accept three recommendations by Suffolk Construction, which won the contract to build the Palm Avenue parking garage.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2009
Horses, holly raise funds for area youth

Clermark Equestrian held its first Horses & Holly Benefit Gala Dec. 11 for the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • December 16, 2009
Black Tie & Tales

Read this week's social column, Black Tie & Tales.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2009
Our View: Still time to kill health bills

Our View: Still time to kill health bills

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 16, 2009
Commission to review Key Club project

The Longboat Key Planning Board voted 4-3 to move the Longboat Key Club and Resort's Islandside renovation-and-expansion project forward to the commission.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 16, 2009
Christ Church project approved

Christ Church of Longboat Key's building project was forwarded to the Town Commission for review by the Planning & Zoning Board, but some residents still have project concerns.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 16, 2009
Briefs

Briefs

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 16, 2009
Town must inspect Colony units

A termite infestation report of The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort done by an engineering company was sent to the town for review. The town will also perform an independent inspection of the property.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 16, 2009
Anderson requests reinstatement

At a Dec. 8 appeal, the attorney for former Longboat Police Officer Jessica Anderson told the town manager that other Longboat officers were treated differently than Anderson.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2009
Letters to the editor

Letters to the editor

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Public Interest Committee Board of Directors
  • December 16, 2009
Rothenberg should step down from commission

The board of directors of the Longboat Key Public Interest Committee (PIC) is saddened and distressed that the Town Commission, in a 5-2 vote, has allowed Mayor Lee Rothenberg to run for yet another term on the commission.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 16, 2009
Cops Corner

Dec. 6 Construction question 3:26 p.m. -- 6400 block of GMD. Suspicious Circumstance. A Christ Church member reported to police that someone placed a sign on the church's construction site that read: 'WHY?' The church member told police members of the nearby homeowners association were disputing the church's construction.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2009
Longboat Key holds worship services

Longboat Key holds worship services

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2009
Celebration of life gathering to be held for Claudia Fuller

A celebration of life gathering for 2008 Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Citizen of the Year Claudia Fuller will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. The date coincides with what would have been Fuller's 80th birthday. Fuller, 79, died Oct. 21. The celebration will feature a band, hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Guests are invited to bring a memory of Fuller to share.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Jessica Luck
  • December 16, 2009
The bold and the beautiful

We announce the winners to this year's 'Light Up the Keys' contest.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Kent Chetlain
  • December 16, 2009
Longboat Key - Key sales jump to 21 first week in December

After two weeks each of eight lackluster sales on the keys, the first week of December exploded with a resounding 21 realty transactions.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • December 16, 2009
Longboat fitness options now include new classes

There is quite a bit of news about fitness classes on Longboat Key this season, led by the return of the mind-body fitness methodology, Nia.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Donna Swan
  • December 16, 2009
Deal Us In

How to play for success

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2009
Grand awakening

Ann McCarthy submitted this sunrise photo, taken at Grand Bay condominium. Please send your sunset (or sunrise) photos to The Longboat Observer, 5570 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, Fla., 34228, or e-mail them to [email protected].

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 16, 2009
'FURRY'-OUS FEMALE

Braden River freshman Mikala Furry has been wrestling since she was in second grade. She has a 4-3 record this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 16, 2009
One big softball family

The Suncoast Storm 10U softball team has been playing together for the past three years. In January, the girls will all move up as a team to 12U.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 16, 2009
Athlete of the Week: Kyle Riley-Hawkins

The Observer spotlights Lakewood Ranch wrestler Kyle Riley-Hawkins.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2009
Family needs community's help

Tim Booz, battling stage-4 bone cancer in his ribs and other tumors, lost his wallet at the Ranch Lake Plaza Sweetbay the night of Dec. 13.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 16, 2009
Acrodunk slams into Tara

Students at Tara Elementary enjoyed a dazzling display of high-flying slam dunks and other tricks when Acrodunk Extreme Dunkers visited Dec. 10.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2009
Three shops leave San Marco

Pedigree Lily Pet Spa, Underseas Paradise and Manatee Golf all have new storefronts. The rest of the plaza remains open.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2009
Fatality sparks push for signal

SMR President and CEO Rex Jensen wants a traffic light at the Post Boulevard and State Road 70 intersection.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2009
Polo season gallops into full swing

The season-opening match will be held Dec. 20 followed by an after party at The Polo Grill and Bar.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 16, 2009
OBSERVED: From our families to yours

For you, our loyal reader, The East County Observer's editorial staff members share our families' most cherished recipes.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2009
School board OKs MTI move, master plan

The Manatee County School Board Dec. 14 unanimously approved the concept of constructing a new Manatee Technical Institute campus along State Road 70 frontage as well as an master plan for the overall 195-acre parcel on which the school would sit.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 16, 2009
CAMERA READY: Model Student

Nolan Middle sixth-grader Ally Rahn has been working with Ford Models for about a year.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 16, 2009
BRHS JROTC named state champs

The Mixed and Girls Raiders teams took home titles during the Dec. 5 meet.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2009
Cops Corner 12.17.09

Unknown person(s) entered the victim's vehicle through the unlocked passenger side door. Once inside, the person(s) took a TomTom GPS unit valued at $150. The person(s) then fled in an unknown direction.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 16, 2009
Business Observer 12.17.09

Fit2Run has been named one of The 50 Best Running Stores in America for the second year in a row.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 16, 2009
GreyHawk Landing home tops transactions

Timothy Mitten sold his home at 12123 Aster Ave. to Patrick O'Dell, Bradenton, for $397,000.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 16, 2009
Mustangs, Pirates pumped for 2009 season

The Lakewood Ranch High girls weightlifting team posted four first-place finishers at the team's first meet of the season Dec. 10.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 15, 2009
USF students create gingerbread house

University of South Florida students entered their USF-style gingerbread house into a mall contest to benefit community youth.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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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
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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
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The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
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East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy

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