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Your Observer

    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 4, 2009
New hotel opens in East County

Benderson Development and Buffalo Lodging Associates opened the new Hampton Inns & Suites off University Parkway.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 4, 2009
Club presents counter conditions

The Longboat Key Club and Resort rejects four of the 40 condition that town staff presented to the Planning and Zoning Board Friday, Dec. 4.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 4, 2009
Mote scientists attend red tide symposium

The findings they presented were gathered over a 10-year period.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 4, 2009
Local Realtor earns international award

Michelle Crabtree was given the Toastmasters International Competent Leader award.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 4, 2009
Concession to host Holiday Junior Program

The Concession Golf Club, in conjunction with the Jonathan Yarwood Golf Academy, will be hosting a Holiday Junior Program Dec. 28 and 30.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 4, 2009
Former farmers market manager returns

Phil Pagano, a former vendor and market manager, will run his first market since March tomorrow.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 4, 2009
Buchanan holds fundraiser in East County

A fundraiser for Congressman Vern Buchanan will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m., tonight, in Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 3, 2009
Arvida claims Islandside density rights

Arvida/JMB Partners, the original owner of The Longboat Key Club and Resort's property, claims the club must get its permission before claiming density rights for Islandside.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 3, 2009
Commission denies cell tower application

In a 6-1 vote Dec. 3, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners denied Vertex Development's request to construct a 150-foot telecommunications tower on the River Club Golf Course property.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • December 3, 2009
Man on the street: Shopping schedule

We asked Longboat resident what their plans were for holiday shopping this season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 3, 2009
Swine flu vaccine available to Longboaters

Sarasota County Health Department is offering free swine-flu vaccinations to all Longboat Key residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 3, 2009
MIS director receives certification

Longboat Key Management Information Services Director Kathi Pletzke has completed a program designed for those in an executive technology leadership position.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 3, 2009
Mote communications VP selected for Festival Committee

The Sarasota County Festival Steering Committee will work to develop a stand-alone festival.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 3, 2009
Orioles announce Sarasota spring-training schedule

The team will play its first game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Ed Smith Stadium.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2009
Baritone produces blow-out sound

Three Sarasota vocalist groups serenaded the audience that gathered for the tree-lighting ceremony Nov. 27, at J.D. Hamel Park - but only one of them blew out the lights on the Christmas tree.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2009
Family transforms street for the season

One Laurel Park family continues keeping with its favorite holiday tradition.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 3, 2009
Police panel may rack up costs

The all-volunteer advisory panel was formed as a no-cost alternative to a paid consultant, but in its first meeting, members discussed a survey with a possible six-figure price tag.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 3, 2009
Event fee compromise reached

Under the threat of having to cancel several special events throughout Sarasota, the event organizers and the city of Sarasota reached an agreement on a new event fee policy.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 3, 2009
U.S. 41 audit cites contractor errors

FDOT reviewed the Nokomis U.S. 41 road-widening project that took about two years longer than anticipated and found that Hubbard Construction made a host of mistakes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 3, 2009
DID considers bond for future projects

A downtown advocate suggests the Downtown Improvement District borrow at least $1 million so it can speed up the completion of its goals.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2009
Observer Updates

Click here for updates and resolutions to previous stories featured in The Sarasota Observer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Rod Thomson
  • December 3, 2009
MY VIEW: The problem is in the mirror

n many respects, Sarasota County did a commendable job squirreling away rainy-day funds and then reacting relatively quickly to the downturn with budget cuts.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2009
OUR VIEW: Slap in the face? No, worse

The Sarasota City Commission knows no bounds to dimwittedness.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Julie Brady
  • December 3, 2009
LETTER: Why would the AARP back the health care bill?

I received a mailing from AARP urging me to call Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, to ask him to support the health care bill.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By George Fuller
  • December 3, 2009
LETTER: Congress can do positive things for unemployed workers

If Congress truly wants to do something positive for the unemployed American workers, there are two things it can do and not spend a dime of our taxpayer money.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 3, 2009
Students decorate Christmas creations

There was evident excitement in the air, while Bay Haven third-graders began their celebration of the holiday season by making gingerbread houses in their classroom Dec. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2009
Cops Corner 12.03.09

our people were seen in a shopping-mall parking lot trying to sell turkeys to supermarket customers. All four were riding bikes.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 3, 2009
Siesta Key home sells for $1 million

Susan and Gary Leive, of Buncombe, N.C., sold their home at 608 Tremont St. to Maria Marin, of Fullerton, Calif., for $1.05 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 2, 2009
Lady Mustangs shutout Lady Pirates

The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team defeated Braden River 3-0 Dec. 1.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 2, 2009
Obituary: Lucien Benjamin Levy

Lucien Benjamin Levy, 68, of Longboat Key, died Aug. 17.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • December 2, 2009
Rev. Maiden goes Outback for 10 days

The Rev. Dan Maiden, of the Longboat Island Chapel, is in Australia attending a 10-day meeting of the World Parliament of Religion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 2, 2009
Tennis Gardens facility is a hit

Long-time friends Samantha Brenner, daughter of Cheryl Loeffler, and Lisa Raymond, one of just 13 women to achieve the tennis Grand Slam (meaning she has won each Grand Slam at least once), met up for the Thanksgiving holiday last weekend at Loeffler's L'Ambiance condominium. Brenner, who grew up in Longboat Key and is now an attorney and screenwriter in Los Angeles, showed Raymond the Longboat Key Club Tennis Gardens. Loeffler reports that Raymond was impressed with the new facility. The trip was her second Key Club visit.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 2, 2009
SandBlast sculpture on display at BeachHouse

The exhibition sculpture for the 2009 SandBlast is on display at The BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Dora Walters
  • December 2, 2009
Kiwanis raffle winner receives her winnings

Michelle Taylor, winner of this year's Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key St. Jude Gourmet Luncheon raffle, received her $20,000 check Nov. 19, at the club's breakfast meeting at the Longboat Key Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 2, 2009
Lazy Lobster opens its doors for lunch

The Lazy Lobster of Longboat Key, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, is now open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • December 2, 2009
A couple of cute couples

Sheila and Merrill Zinder, Sylvia and Irwin Pastor and Temi and Brad Saivetz hosted Thanksgiving Dinner for about 18 people, including at least a half-dozen from out-of-town. Against all odds, the group included two engaged couples: Merrill's daughter, Debbie Roff, and Dr. Lee Ratner, from Albany, N.Y., and Scott Pastor and Keely Williams, of Sarasota.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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