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Your Observer

    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
  • By Pam McTeer
  • May 4, 2009
Commission to vote on Lockwood Wal-Mart site

Manatee County commissioners will discuss public infrastructure needed for the expansion of the Lockwood Ridge Wal-Mart.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 4, 2009
City to reconsider $5.5 million land purchase

A second appraisal of the Michael Saunders and Co.-owned lots came in about $900,000 less than the first appraisal.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 2, 2009
Suspects charged in two home invasions

Sarasota police captured two men allegedly responsible for two violent attacks.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 2, 2009
Hope in the Unseen

Several Gulf Coast window and shutter companies see hope in a new insurance rule. One entrepreneur is even opening a new showroom to meet the expected demand.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 1, 2009
Two attacked in Friday night home invasion

Police don't believe the case is related to a recent series of home invasions, but it could be tied to an attack Thursday evening.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 1, 2009
Two attacked in Friday night home invasion

Police don't believe the Friday night attack is related to a recent series of home invasions, but it could be tied to an attack Thursday evening. xxx

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 1, 2009
May Day protesters march downtown

Much like the April 15 tea party, this demonstration was intended to voice opposition to the federal government's bailouts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 1, 2009
Parking-garage plan detailed

City planners describe their goals for the Palm Avenue parking garage and request ideas from neighbors and business owners Thursday night.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • May 1, 2009
Blackburn Point Bridge closure rescheduled

Sarasota County will delay repairs until May 26, after residents asked for a delay.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 1, 2009
Fire Chief Halas signs off

Longboat Key Fire-Rescue Chief Julius Halas officially leaves Longboat Key after 10 years today.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 1, 2009
Braden River cruises in semifinal

The Braden River High School baseball team cruised to a 9-1 victory over the DeSoto County Bulldogs in the Class 4A District 10 semifinal Thursday in Sebring.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Latest News

1
The installation of span wire traffic signals on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard at the intersections of Gatewood Drive and Wood Fern Trail are two projects within Manatee County's "master vision" for speed management on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard between 44th Avenue East and State Road 64.
  • June 8, 2026
More traffic signals coming to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard
2
Trish Shinkle served as Town Clerk for the town of Longboat Key from June 2006 to June 2026.
  • June 8, 2026
Trish Shinkle, who recorded town history for 20 years, has retired
3
Pianist and composer Michael Stephen Brown is a faculty member at the 2026 Sarasota Music Festival.
  • June 7, 2026
The bar remains high at streamlined Sarasota Music Festival
4
Cole Ralston and Aether Baskin enjoy the con experience.
  • June 7, 2026
SRQCon brings pop culture fans together at Selby Library
5
Brody Floyd, 6, his mom Sara Floyd, and brothers Jacob Floyd, 9, and Benjamin Floyd, 6, prepare for the run.
  • June 6, 2026
Kids Summer Beach Runs kick off for the year

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