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Your Observer

Total Wine & More is one of the anchor tenants at Benderson Development's Pelican Plaza
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 13, 2016
Benderson continues Pelican Plaza redevelopment

The development firm has purchased the former Denny’s on South Tamiami Trail and is planning a new building to house a Starbuck’s on the other side of the plaza.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 13, 2016
Guns make you safer

Few people would agree with that idea, or with two bills that would allow guns to be carried in the open. But there’s a legitimate case for how open carry can improve safety.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch's Sydney Wicks and Sarasota's Elizabeth Giuffre battle for the ball during the second half of their Class 5A-District 8 semifinal match Jan. 12.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 13, 2016
Mustangs blank Sailors in district semis

The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team beat Sarasota 5-0 Jan. 12.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA's Madisyn Opstal attempts to maneuver the ball past Sarasota Christian's Emma Kral.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 13, 2016
Top-ranked Thunder blank Blazers

The Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer team beat Sarasota Christian 5-0 Jan. 12.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
To help boost the local economy, Manatee County schools must develop career-ready students, EDC officials said.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 13, 2016
Manatee County School Board agrees to keep school start times, plans for economic growth

The majority of teachers, students, teachers and community members who took a survey said middle and high school start and end times should not be changed.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch leading scorer Sam Hester and his Mustang teammates are hoping to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Class 7A-District 11 tournament with a win Jan. 19.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 13, 2016
THAT'S THE TICKET ...

The top matchups this week in East County sports

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch seniors Tim Dwyer, Luis Tremblay-Vidal and Dylan Cameron and junior Hunter Reed have all posted winning records this season.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 13, 2016
Mustangs pin hopes on depth

Lakewood Ranch has four wrestlers ranked in the state's top 15.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 13, 2016
Cops Corner 1.14.2016

Crime reports from around the area.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Lexi Parks rides her horse, Chance, in barrel racing.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 13, 2016
Fair to say, they love horses

Local teens among many 4-H club members to showcase their talent at the Manatee County Fair.

  • East County
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 13, 2016
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 1.15.16

Enjoy this week's edition of Longboat Key Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The area along Bayside Drive in the Longbeach Village has been a popular place to store boats since before the town incorporated 60 years ago.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 13, 2016
Boat discussion resurfaces in Village

A debate over the storage of boats along Bayside Drive floats to the surface for a discussion this season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Construction on a $3.11 million Bayfront Park renovation originally scheduled for construction in December has been pushed back to May.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 13, 2016
Bayfront Park construction bumped to May

Construction on a $3.11 million Bayfront Park renovation originally slated for construction in December has been pushed back while construction plans are finalized.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Town Manager Dave Bullock inspects two groins Dec. 17 that were installed last year to hold sand at the north end of the Island.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 13, 2016
Two beach projects permits down, one to go

Permits pave the way for New Pass and mid-Key beach projects in 2016. The town is still waiting on one last permit for a Longboat Pass project.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Ciemniecki's home is Key West style, complete with a metal roof and a cupola.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • January 13, 2016
The key to country living

East County’s aquamarine house is a tale of compromise.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Katie Walters is looking for a home in the $200,000 to $250,000 price range, which may land her in the Harmony community in East County.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 13, 2016
Manatee County affordable housing takes hit

Now that developers must pay educational facilities fees, cost likely to be passed along to buyers.

  • East County
  • News
Melissa Nell and Charlie Hunsicker, of Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources, worked as part of a team to create the interactive exhibits inside of the Nature Center.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 13, 2016
Manatee County centers on nature

A new Nature Center at Rye Preserve dives into the area's history and landscape.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High Agriculture Department Leader Deb Barry is leaving the school district for a job in Gainesville.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • January 13, 2016
Your Town

Deb Barry celebrates final year at BRHS with pole barn opening; Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch receives national credentials

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The home at 6405 Gulfside Road has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,528 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 13, 2016
Sleepy Lagoon home sells for $2.85 million

The home at 6405 Gulfside Road has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,528 square feet of living area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Exterior
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 13, 2016
Home of the Month: 560 Broadway St.

This quaint cottage in Longbeach Village has three bedrooms and two baths.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Barbara and Ryan Ackerman
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 13, 2016
Ackerman Group ranks No. 1

Coldwell Banker’s Ackerman Group sold $77.7 million worth of real estate in 2014, more than any local agent.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Tyler's of Longboat partners Dan and Rob Alderson, Michael and Catherine Garey and Robert Fracalossy
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 13, 2016
Longboat to take a scoop of the ice cream business

Tyler’s Ice Cream, of Cortez, and the Lazy Lobster will open Tyler’s of Longboat in late March or early April.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Marvin Black still his summers at Pine Forest Camp.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • January 13, 2016
Marvin Black: a happy camper

Longboat Key resident Marvin Black is part of four generations of family who has directed Pine Forest Camp in Greeley, Pa.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Lt. Todd Mercer stands at attention during the raising of the flag. Photo by Jessica Salmond.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 13, 2016
Dual-purpose station has safety covered

Sarasota's Fire Station No. 17 will serve the University Parkway corridor.

  • East County
  • News
Mill Creek residents Janet and Leigh Hollins awoke to the sound of rain on the roof of their rental fishing cabin at Jiggs Landing Preserve.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 13, 2016
Vendor casts future for historic Jiggs site

Five years after Manatee County opened Jiggs Landing Preserve, its facilities are being used.

  • East County
  • News
Harrison Troyan, behind, and Zaid Ibsais, front right, show off their characters, Tick Tock Crocodile and the Wicked Witch.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 13, 2016
Wolf blows out perspective

Third-graders at Willis Elementary have taken a personal approach to learning about story characters.

  • East County
  • News
Kailyn Scully scored 11 points and hauled in six boards in Lakewood Ranch's victory against Palm Harbor University Jan. 7.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 13, 2016
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

The Lakewood Ranch High girls basketball team is ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 7A for good reason.

  • East County
  • Sports
Commissioner Phill Younger, who changed his mind between first and second reading for the proposed neighborhood undergrounding project and now opposes it, said it’s “grossly unfair to the north end property owners.”
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 13, 2016
Balance of power

A majority of votes in favor of an undergrounding project could force a minority to pay the most.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • January 13, 2016
Cypress Creek Estates home sells for $965,000

Real Estate transactions Dec. 28 - Jan. 1

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Alyssa Connelly was born Christmas night.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • January 13, 2016
East County celebrates births

Three families welcomed their newest additions.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 13, 2016
Longboat Key Letters to the Editor 1.13.15

Underground utilities; Colony; Trump

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Maye Lavinson and Ruth Lerner gave up the car keys years ago and rely on help to run errands.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 13, 2016
Life on Longboat — without the keys

The Longboat Key Foundation is promoting a Transportation Awareness Day Jan. 26 to inform elderly residents of different modes of transportation available to them.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Steve Schield, 60, has been a town employee for 26 years and a resident of the island since 1994.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • January 13, 2016
A Conversation with Steve Schield

Steve Schield, 60, has been a town employee for 26 years and a resident of the island since 1994. The senior planner is known as the town’s tree protector who helps developers realize trees on a project site can be an asset instead of a roadblock.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Braden River senior Alex Salguero was named to the first-team Class 7A all-state football team.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 13, 2016
East County High 5 Moments: 01.14.16

East County High 5 Moments: 01.14.16

  • East County
  • Sports
Riverview shooting guard AJ Caldwell scored a game-high 29 points versus Booker Jan. 7.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 12, 2016
Sarasota Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Riverview High boys basketball team passes initial eye test.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Cardinal Mooney striker Alex Turner already has garnered interest from Notre Dame and Wake Forest.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • January 12, 2016
Striker nets perfect reward

Cardinal Mooney junior captain Alex Turner has scored 31 goals for the Cougars so far this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Applebee stands in front of one of the now discarded shelter sites during a press junket.
    By
  • Jack Short
  • January 12, 2016
County changes stance on homeless shelter efforts

Sarasota County said that staff will not do any more work on a “come as you are” shelter unless urged to do so by the community and city.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Artist JC Wayne hangs the ninth and final piece in her series "Atomic Universe," the latest installation at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church. The display will be up throughout the holiday season.
  • December 19, 2025
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Charlie Shachat, a co-founder of the Foolishly Festive Christmas Parade, decided to be part of the show for the "Jaws" 50th anniversary.
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