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Your Observer

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
The United States U17 squad routed Portugal 7-1 at the 2016 Nike International Friendlies at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 2, 2016
United States U17 soccer pummels Portugal at Nike International Friendlies

The match was played at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • Sports
SMA Board of Directors Treasurer Capt. Fred Derr presens former SMA Prep Head of Schools Phillip Eddy with a ceremonial saber Aug. 2, 2014.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 2, 2016
Sarasota Military Academy lawsuit moves forward

A special magistrate has recommended denying Sarasota Military Academy’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former administrator.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Longboat Police Department has launched its Toys for Tots campaign.
    By
  • Terry O’Connor
  • December 2, 2016
Longboat Key police start collecting Toys for Tots

Toys can be dropped off through Dec. 21 at the Longboat Key Police Department, 5460 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Thousands of lights go up around the University Town Center shopping plazas each Christmas season. File photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 2, 2016
University Town Center lights up for holidays

UTC plazas will celebrate the holiday shopping season with Festival of Lights event.

  • East County
  • News
At least 22 breakfast dishes are now available at The Old Salty Dog, including Maine lobster Benedict. Terry O'Connor
    By
  • Terry O’Connor
  • December 2, 2016
Breakfast now served at The Old Salty Dog on Longboat Key

Managers Josh Shear, an 18-year veteran from Lakewood Ranch, and Amy Blair, a 26-year vet from Sarasota, said the breakfast idea has been on the back burner for a long time.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Anna Brugmann
  • December 1, 2016
Santa sparks holiday cheer

Santa Claus had the honor of plugging in the downtown Christmas tree in Five Points Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Katie Johns
  • December 1, 2016
St. Mary rings in the holidays

St. Mary Star of the Sea, Catholic Church hosted its annual holiday party on Dec. 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
East County Scores Roundup: 12.01.16
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 1, 2016
East County Scores Roundup: 12.01.16

East County Scores Roundup: 12.01.16

  • East County
  • Sports
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Latest News

1
St. Lucie County Administrator George Landry has been recommended by Howard Tipton to replace him as town manager as Tipton prepares to retire.
  • June 19, 2026
New town manager recommended for Longboat Key
2
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
Fourth of July 2026 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch
3
Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
  • June 18, 2026
Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
4
Tony Barrett speaks at a candidate forum in April at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
  • June 18, 2026
Manatee County Commission candidate charged with domestic battery
5
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
  • June 18, 2026
Driver dies of injuries in blowout-triggered crash in Sarasota

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