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Your Observer

  • By Pam McTeer
  • May 7, 2009
Love blooms at McNeal

The school's K-Kids participants planted a flower garden for their principal Ronna Paris, who will retire this summer. The garden was unveiled May 1, dubbed Ronna Paris Day.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 7, 2009
Workers seek some relief

As the repaving project moved north, so did an ongoing search for public restrooms.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Pam McTeer
  • May 7, 2009
Donna Hayes unveils Jiggs' Landing plans

Jiggs' relative Sandy Metcalf attended Hayes' May 1 advisory meeting to hear plans for improving the site.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • May 7, 2009
Coach Hunter resigns from Pirates

Coach Josh Hunter was tapped to start the Pirates football program in March 2005. Interim coach Ed Volz hosted the team's first spring practice May 1.

  • East County
  • Sports
  • By Pam McTeer
  • May 6, 2009
Veteran Manatee fire chief to retire

Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue District Fire Chief Tom Hennessy yesterday that he will be retiring next month.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 6, 2009
Jamrocks moves out of Whitney Beach Plaza

The Jamaican restaurant will move to Bradenton Beach after eight-and-a-half months at Whitney Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 6, 2009
Pattigeorge's demonstrates its flower power for Earth Day

Pattigeorge's restaurant celebrated Earth Day 2009 in a colorful way.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 6, 2009
Key match made in tennis heaven

The Longboat Observer can now add 'matchmaker' to its list of accomplishments.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 6, 2009
Longboat visitors enjoy beach time

Four-year-old Katelyn Schein and her sister, Kiley, 2, from Indianapolis, collected shells on Longboat's beach

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 6, 2009
Prima ballerina takes on new role

The Sarasota Ballet's leading lady, Lauren Strongin, has accepted a position with Houston Ballet for next season.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 6, 2009
Too many signs

P&Z board member Hackett upset over number of signs placed on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 6, 2009
Manatee Chamber appoints EDC director

Eric Basinger comes to Manatee County from Alabama, where he served as executive director of the Elmore County Economic Development Authority in Wetumpka.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 5, 2009
ODA Thunder crushes Oldsmar

Class 1A regional semifinal: The Out-of-Door Academy 17, Oldsmar Christian 0

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 5, 2009
Pirates fall against Lake Wales in quarterfinal

Class 4A regional quarterfinal: Lake Wales 1, Braden River 0

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 5, 2009
Chapel property considered for cell tower

Jim Eatrides, with Alpha-Omega Communications, recently met with the congregation of the Longboat Island Chapel to discuss cell towers.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Pam McTeer
  • May 5, 2009
Concession hosts First Tee benefit tourney

The Concession Golf Club and Residences and The First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee today announced they will host their annual golf tournament fundraiser May 26.

  • East County
  • News
  • By Pam McTeer
  • May 5, 2009
Realtors see increase in home sales

In April, the Manatee County REALTORS filed 68.2% more single-family home contracts than in January, up to 471 contracts from 280.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 5, 2009
Improvement district sets first budget

Downtown Improvement District members detailed how they'll use the taxes they collect.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 5, 2009
Scoreboard 04.28.09 to 05.01.09

Scores and recaps from 04.28.09 to 05.01.09.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 5, 2009
Manatee Habitat announces new director

Ron Turner has taken the position of executive director of Manatee County Habitat for Humanity, the organization announced this morning.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 5, 2009
Buchanan endorses Greg Steube

U.S. Rep Vern Buchanan announced his endorsement of Greg Steube for state representative Monday.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 5, 2009
City to utilize 'green' utility bills

Sarasota expects to save about $1,000 per month by billing customers online.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 5, 2009
Two homes in River Wilderness top this weeks transactions

Two homes in River Wilderness top this weeks transactions

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 5, 2009
River Club South home sells for $500,000

River Club South home sells for $500,000

  • East County
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 5, 2009
School impact fees may be suspended

School board members will ask the county to give new homeowners and builders a one-year break on impact fees.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 5, 2009
Court dismisses Cropsey case

A U.S. District Court rules in favor of Manatee County Public Schools in a case in which former Mills Elementary teacher Mary Cropsey alleged wrongful termination.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 5, 2009
Brenner denied another term

The Longboat Key Town Commission chose former zoning board members over its current Planning Board chairman, David Brenner, creating more friction between the two groups.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 4, 2009
City puts the brakes on parking decision

Commissioners once again table the discussion to buy a Michael Saunders-owned property to create more parking for Burns Square.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 4, 2009
Brenner resigns his post as EDC chairman

David Brenner resigned as chairman of the LLSA Chamber's Economic Development Council Friday, May 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Jessica Luck
  • May 4, 2009
First turtle nest of the season found on Longboat

Mote Marine Laboratory volunteers found Longboat Key's first loggerhead turtle nest of the season Monday, May 4.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Jessica Luck
  • May 4, 2009
First turtle nest of the season spotted

A Kemp's ridley turtle was seen nesting April 25, on Casey Key. The nest is only the third Kemp's ridley nest verified in Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 4, 2009
Manatee braces for school closings

The district is asking parents to make preparations following a probable swine flu case in Hillsborough County.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 4, 2009
MVP Arena Sports launches indoor paintball

MVP Sports now offers indoor paintball at its facility inside the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 4, 2009
East County schools nab top tech honors

Lakewood Ranch High School, Haile Middle School bring home second- and third-place awards.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 4, 2009
East County schools nab top tech honors

Lakewood Ranch High, Halie Middle School bring home second-and-third-place awards.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 4, 2009
Application hinges on road

Longboat Club Road is a point of contention in The Longboat Key Club and Resort's Islandside application.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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