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Your Observer

Out-of-Door Academy will need senior Kolbie Ward to have a big game against Manatee on Dec. 14. File photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 7, 2016
That's the ticket ...

The biggest match-ups this week in East County.

  • East County
  • Sports
LaDazhia Williams.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 7, 2016
East County High Fives: 12.07.16

East County High Fives: 12.07.16

  • East County
  • Sports
Justin Harris crashes through a defender's tackle.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 7, 2016
Surge Rugby Club promotes culture of respect through intense sport

Prose and Kohn: Ryan Kohn

  • East County
  • Sports
Natalie Gorji makes an open-field juke during practice.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 7, 2016
Out-of-Door freshman soccer star experienced beyond her years

Netting a hat trick each game is a goal of the prolific scorer.

  • East County
  • Sports
Photo by Anna Brugmann
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 7, 2016
Share your holiday memories and mishaps with The Observer

We're looking for some of your funniest, sweetest and most outrageous holiday memories to feature in our Christmas issue.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 7, 2016
Anonymous givers save the day

A Longboat Key couple paid to have the programs for the Kiwanis Club Gourmet Lawn Party reprinted.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Meeting street runs between Riva Trace and University Place. Only this gate divides the communities.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2016
Privacy prompts Riva Trace decision

Commissioners allow emergency access point to be removed.

  • East County
  • News
Harry and Mary Jo Steltmann host the Palm Aire Women' s Club Holly Jolly event on Dec. 4 at their home.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 6, 2016
Palm Aire Women's Club hosts a jolly fundraiser

Palm Aire couple host more than 100 guests who enjoy a great party.

  • East County
  • News
Police Officer Dave Cooper, Sgt. Lee Smith, Police Chief Pete Cumming with Brian Burriss, Bill Gresham and James Dean of Waste Management
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 6, 2016
Longboat Key Police Department and Waste Management team up

Waste Management of Manatee County will launch its Waste Watch program on Longboat Key in the coming weeks.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Terry O’Connor
  • December 6, 2016
Tempers flare during Longboat Key Town Commission meeting

Tempers apparently flared during a break in the 3.5-hour Longboat Key Town Commission meeting Monday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The box in blue denotes the site location.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 6, 2016
Movie theater may come to Ellenton

The proposed Manatee County theater is adjacent to the Ellenton outlet mall.

  • East County
  • News
The Woman's Exchange, located at 539 S. Orange Ave., wanted to build a single-story expansion at 526 Rawls Ave.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 6, 2016
Judge rejects Woman’s Exchange appeal

On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Brian Iten ruled the city was justified in its decision to reject plans to expand the Woman’s Exchange.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 6, 2016
Stephen King’s former Longboat Key rental hits the market

The $5.4 million estate, spanning 2.5 acres, rests on the largest tract of land available on Longboat.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Foundation Chairman Bob Simmons with board members David Brenner, Warren Simonds, Jeff Mayers, Jim Brown and Tom Aposporos. File
    By
  • Terry O’Connor
  • December 6, 2016
Longboat Key Arts Center begins to take shape

The Longboat Key Foundation will reveal details at the Longboat Key Town Commission workshop at 2 p.m. Dec. 12.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Commissioners Terry Gans, left, and Phill Younger, were sworn in Monday as mayor and vice mayor, respectively. Terry O'Connor
    By
  • Terry O’Connor
  • December 5, 2016
Longboat Key Town Commission selects new mayor in special vote

Vice Mayor Terry Gans was voted in unanimously to succeed Duncan.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Terry O’Connor
  • December 5, 2016
Longboat Key stages Ron Johnson art exhibit

Ron Johnson's lifelong passion was photography. He participated in every Town Hall art exhibit after his two terms as mayor.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mirey Kazanciyan, Linde Ward and Karen Coffin
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 5, 2016
Country Club Shores residents toast to the holidays

Residents enjoyed an evening at Bird Key Yacht Club on Dec. 4.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The new facility is built to accommodate future growth. Courtesy image.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 5, 2016
MCAT opens new fleet facility

he project will accommodate future growth in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
The Baltimore Orioles will host the seventh-annual OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic on Feb. 15 at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch.Â
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 5, 2016
Orioles to host Birdland Golf Classic on Feb. 15 in Lakewood Ranch

It is the seventh-annual year of the event.

  • East County
  • Sports
Paramedics inspect and treat a Mar Vista employee following the explosion of a fuel canister at the Kiwanis Club Gourmet Lawn Party on Dec. 3.
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 5, 2016
Mar Vista employees suffer burns after lawn party explosion

General manager Anthony Cucci and cook Andres Herrera-Cardenas were treated and released from local hospitals.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez is opposing plans for a hotel on the barrier island.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 5, 2016
Siesta resident petitions against hotel proposal

Former County Commission candidate Lourdes Ramirez has started a campaign to oppose Comp Plan changes that could allow a large hotel on the island.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 5, 2016
Super Cat II tournament brings tennis greats to Longboat

The annual men's tournament brought tennis players from 33 states to Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 4, 2016
Laurel Park gets in the holiday spirit

Laurel Park neighborhood residents gathered to celebrate the holiday season.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 4, 2016
Siesta Key hosts seafood and music festival

The Siesta Key Seafood and Music festival brought local restaurants, musicians and artists together at Siesta Key Public Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 4, 2016
Longboat Island Chapel celebrates the holidays

Attendees toasted to food, family and friendship.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
East County Basketball Roundup: 12.04.16
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 4, 2016
East County Basketball Roundup: 12.04.16

East County Basketball Roundup: 12.04.16

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 4, 2016
VIDEO: Parade decks downtown Sarasota with holiday cheer

Sarasota kicks off the holiday season with lions and tigers and Santa Claus (oh my)!

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 3, 2016
Evening in paradise; tropical night

The University Park event raised funds for Just for Girls Elementary.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Santa (Bradenton' s Tom Jensvold) tries to get 2-year-old Evan Billingham of Lakewood Ranch to give him a high five, as Evan' s dad, Dr. Chris Dillingham, looks on.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 3, 2016
Jingle all the way in Lakewood Ranch fundraiser

The Arthritis Foundation fundraising run packed Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 3, 2016
Bird Key blesses its fleet

184 members gathered for the blessing, cocktail hour and dinner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 3, 2016
Lawn Party dishes out the best of Longboat

The 6th annual Kiwanis Club Gourmet Lawn Party benefited the club's scholarship fund and charitable efforts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 3, 2016
Fashion raises funds for YMCA

Lakewood Ranch YMCA instructors, among others, modeled clothing from local retailers for the event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 2, 2016
St. Armands shines bright at Holiday Night

Santa Claus took a night off from the North Pole and visited with children at the 38th Annual Holiday Night on St. Armands

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Mayor Jack Duncan, recovering from a quadruple bypass, has resigned as District 2 commissioner. File
    By
  • Terry O’Connor
  • December 2, 2016
Longboat Key Mayor Jack Duncan resigns shortly after heart surgery

The 67-year-old Duncan addressed his resignation letter dated Dec. 1 to Vice Mayor Terry Gans and the Longboat Key Town Commission.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 2, 2016
Longboat Key Chamber networks with neighbors

Chamber members enjoyed an evening of mingling with the Manatee and Anna Maria island chambers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jeffery Kin, the artistic director of the Players Centre for Performing Arts, pours soup at Empty Bowls.
    By
  • Berkley Mason
  • December 2, 2016
Empty Bowls generosity fills Lakewood Main Street

Food Bank of Manatee benefits from annual fundraiser.

  • East County
  • News
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1
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
2
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
3
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
4
Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
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Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
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