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Your Observer

    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 25, 2009
Athlete of the Week: Wendi Golden

The Observer spotlights Lakewood Ranch High girls golf coach Wendi Golden.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • November 24, 2009
Faithful following

Longboat Key residents and visitors of all faiths attended the 29th annual Longboat Key Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service to give thanks for their blessings. Host church for the Nov. 24 service was St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 24, 2009
Annual Observer event remains a hit

The 10th annual Observer Challenge will take place from Dec. 11 through Dec. 13, at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, 590 Bay Isles Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 24, 2009
New owners make the cut

Lena Lemon and Ken Schwartz are the owners of Crossover Cutters, at 5620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, which was formerly Manny's Barber Shop and Boone's Barber Shop.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 24, 2009
Light up, Longboat, for this year's contest

It's time for The Longboat Observer's annual 'Light Up the Keys' contest.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • November 24, 2009
Temple Beth Israel celebrates veterans Shabbat

Temple Beth Israel held its annual veterans Shabbat service Friday, Nov. 20.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • November 24, 2009
Bike rider does 80 in honor of his 80th

Carl Meyers turns 80 on Dec. 3, and he wanted to do something special to celebrate. An avid bike rider, he bought a new bike and decided to ride 80 kilometers - 50 miles - on his birthday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 24, 2009
Letters to the editor

Weldon Frost, a 20-year volunteer with the Salvation Army, recalls some vignettes as a bell ringer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 24, 2009
Cops Corner

Nov. 13 Deep sleep 11:41 a.m. -- 500 block of Bay Isles Road. Camping Violation. A town employee told police that someone was sleeping in Bicentennial Park. Police found a man sleeping in the bushes, and he was issued written warnings for camping and possession of alcohol on town property.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 24, 2009
Town engineer finds roundabout flaws

The town manager received permission to spend $25,000 for a consultant to combat the city of Sarasota's roundabout proposal earlier this year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 24, 2009
Golden gathering spot

In 1959, Arvida officials created Bird Key Yacht Club in hopes of generating home sales. Fifty years later, the club did more than sell homes - it became a second home for its members.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 24, 2009
Building permits

Building permits

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Kent Chetlain
  • November 24, 2009
A unit in Grand Bay sells for $700,000

Unit 342 at Grand Bay condominiums has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,143 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 24, 2009
Real Estate Reports

Real Estate Reports

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • November 24, 2009
Player of the Week - Michael Pollock

We caught up with Michael Pollock after a tennis match at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 24, 2009
In Brief

Community news and notes

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Donna Swan
  • November 24, 2009
Deal Us In

Deal Us In

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Sam Castell
  • November 24, 2009
Day's dawning

Sam Castell 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
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 24, 2009
Town works to restore beach

Public Works Director Juan Florensa said the loss of a beach near the North Shore Road beach access is now a threat to the road and town utilities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 24, 2009
Key resident gives thanks for gift of life

Gulfshore of Longboat Key resident Charlotte Jensen received a kidney transplant six months ago.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 24, 2009
OUR VIEW: Lessons from the pilgrims

Edward Winslow's 1622 description of a Pilgrim feast is often regarded as the model from which grew our modern Thanksgiving tradition.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Weldon Frost
  • November 24, 2009
Vignettes from a bell ringer

These are just some of the stories that I've heard in 20 years of ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas time in front of Publix.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 24, 2009
'Letters to Lee'

The following is the last installment in a three-part series of excerpts from the book, 'Letters to Lee,' a compilation of letters written by Lt. Gen. James V. Edmundson to his wife, Lee, during World War II.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • November 24, 2009
New parking fines take effect next week

Higher fees will help balance the city parking department's budget.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 24, 2009
Save Our Seabirds helps bird, plane

The organization came to the rescue of a swan living on a closed runway of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 24, 2009
Save Our Seabirds helps bird, plane

Save Our Seabirds helps bird, plane

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • November 24, 2009
Police Advisory Panel schedules first meeting

The panel created to monitor Sarasota Police policies and procedures will meet for the first time next week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 24, 2009
Ranch resident wins trip to Scotland

Greenbrook Banks resident Ernie Soller won a trip to Scotland valued at $5,500.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 24, 2009
Sarasota Bay receives good report card

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program reports about 4,040 acres of new seagrass habitat have been created.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 24, 2009
Middle, high schools to receive H1N1 vaccine

The Manatee County Health Department, in continued cooperation with Manatee County Public Schools, will continue H1N1 vaccinations in middle and high schools in December.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 24, 2009
Lazy Lobster of LBK now serving lunch

The restaurant opened Oct. 15 in the former location of Cafe on the Bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • November 24, 2009
Black Tie & Tales

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

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 24, 2009
Tiger Bay Club debates oil drilling

An oil drilling discussion at The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club's monthly meeting got heated when environmentalists debated with oil drilling supporters.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • November 24, 2009
Firefighter disputes pension change

Firefighter paramedic Jeff Bullock told the firefighter pension board the town's pension liability should not be held against the firefighters as they try to broker a new contract.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 23, 2009
Teachers hustle toward goal

Willis Elementary's Christine Bradford and Susie Johnson educated their students about setting goals by completing one of their own.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • November 23, 2009
Florida Olive Oil Co. opens on the Circle

The store features specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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
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

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