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Your Observer

    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • February 17, 2016
Seaplace celebrates Mardi Gras

Seaplace kept the Fat Tuesday celebrations going a week later at its Mardi Gras party Feb. 17.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • February 17, 2016
Republican Club discusses U.S.-Israeli relationship

The Republican Club of Longboat Key held its monthly meeting Feb. 16, at Harbourside Dining Room.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Andy
    By
  • Jack Short
  • February 17, 2016
Wayward dog, Andy, found

Ten days after jumping a 12-foot fence at a foster home on Siesta Key, social media and a network of vigilant dog lovers helped locate Andy.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch pitcher Logan Newton allowed three hits and stuck out seven in five innings of work Feb. 16.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 17, 2016
Logan Newton tosses shutout

The Lakewood Ranch softball team earned its first district win of the season Feb. 16.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson presents a proclaimation celebrating the 20th anniverary of CYD to CEO Karen Bogues, Sarah Marin and former commissioner Shannon Staub.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • February 17, 2016
CYD celebrates 20 years developing young leaders

Sarasota County Commissioners recognize Community Youth Development on its 20th anniversary.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Senior Tyler Dyson led Braden River to its second district win of the season Feb. 16.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 17, 2016
Braden River baseball blanks Armwood

The Braden River baseball team beat Armwood 6-0 in district action Feb. 16.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 17, 2016
Orioles to open Spring workouts

Pitchers and catchers will take the field for their first Spring Training workout Feb. 19.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
With a new investor on board, Major League Football hopes to kick off its training season in March at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 17, 2016
Major League Football finds new funding source

New professional football league based in Lakewood Ranch appears to be back on schedule for inaugural 2016 season.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River softball coach Melissa Dowling talks with junior Sarah Crawford during the Pirates 5-2 victory versus Sarasota Feb. 11.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 17, 2016
Coach's pitch -- 'Be your best'

Braden River softball coach has Pirates pushing their limits.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch junior pitcher Logan Newton will lead the Mustang in their home opener Feb. 18.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 17, 2016
That's the ticket ...

Check out these top matchups in East County sports this week.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • February 17, 2016
Longboat Key: Your Calendar

Check out upcoming events in Longboat Key and surrounding areas.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • February 17, 2016
Longboat Key: Business Briefs

Business Briefs

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Longboat Key Town Commissioner Sid Ochs, Education Center founder Laura Taubes and Mayor James Edmundson cut the ribbon at the new Education Center in 1985.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • February 17, 2016
Education Center celebrates 30 years

Lifelong learning is the mission of the Longboat Key Education Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Al "Mifflin" Lowe with his books at Bird Key Yacht Club.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • February 17, 2016
Bird Key resident pens children’s books

Al “Mifflin” Lowe’s upcoming children’s book features two dogs chasing different dreams.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The home at 3475 Gulf of Mexico Drive has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,183 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 17, 2016
Longboat Key home sells for $7 million

The home at 3475 Gulf of Mexico Drive has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,183 square feet of living area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 17, 2016
Longboat Key : Obituaries

Frederick Gentner and John "Jack" Nothacker died.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The town manager is investigation allowing neighborhoods like Country Club Shores to opt out of the town's neighborhood undergrounding project.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 17, 2016
Neighborhood undergrounding surges to ballot

The current funding formula for a neighborhood undergrounding project stays intact as the town manager investigates an opt-out program for neighborhoods.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 17, 2016
Briefs: Longboat Key 2.18.16

Commission postpones collecting legal fees from Jaleski; All Angels blesses columbarium; Longboat Pass Bridge closures this week

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Some Cedars Tennis Club members question the response time and 911 dispatch measures from a 911 call Feb. 11 at their club.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 17, 2016
A matter of time

The delay wasn’t as long as it felt but for many Cedars Tennis Club players, they question whether the death of one of their members could have been handled differently.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Floridays Project Manager James Brearley told the Longboat Observer Feb. 11 his company was able to reach an agreement with the gas station, which led to a contract for the bank building on Feb. 10.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 17, 2016
Floridays banks on north end

Sarasota-based Floridays Development Co.'s contract to purchase two vacant properties could spur north-end redevelopment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • February 17, 2016
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 2.18.16

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 17, 2016
Town taxes will go up

Beach renourishment: $17 million. Underground utility lines: maybe $49 million. And now this: As much as $3.5 million for a new fire station. It’s the price for paradise.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lost Lagoon's original design includes a lazy river ride. File rendering.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 17, 2016
Lost Lagoon makes second wave

Manatee County accepts a second round of water park proposals.

  • East County
  • News
A SCAT bus makes its way through the University Town Center area on Cattlemen Road. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 17, 2016
Benderson revs up for transfer station construction

Three SCAT routes will use the facility once it opens.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Garden Club co-vice president Lori Walker and CDD 4 Supervisor Joe Sidiski are eager to see the garden be cultivated. It will share part of the fence with the Lakewood Ranch Dog Park.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 17, 2016
Community garden takes sprouts in Lakewood Ranch

Organizers hope the garden will open by month's end, in time for the spring growing season.

  • East County
  • News
Sharon Garson, Joan Robbins and Sallie Feldman believe mah jongg is a game for all ages.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • February 17, 2016
East County residents enjoy ancient game

Mah jongg becomes a ladies' favorite at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • February 17, 2016
Cops Corner 2.15.2016

Crime reports from around the area.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Jack Short
  • February 17, 2016
City issues SOS to boat owners

Time is running out for owners of three boats that stranded following severe weather in January to claim their vessels.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • February 17, 2016
Pomello Park home tops local transactions at $1.3 million

Residential real estate transactions Feb. 1-5

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch junior forward LaDazhia Williams earned District 16 Player of the Year honors for Class 7A.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 17, 2016
Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Lakewood Ranch sweeps end of season basketball awards.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jason McKendree, manager of cattle operations for Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, grew up in Bradenton. He described himself as "wild" in high school, with no clear path. That changed when he started working under Cliff Coddington in 1991 with SMR's cattle.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • February 17, 2016
East County cowboys still bullish on ranch life

Ranchers learn to adapt when development changes the landscape.

  • East County
  • News
MLFB's president Wes Chandler is on the phone with one of the league's coaches as he announces his selection during the franchise player draft Jan. 27. Photo courtesy of MLFB.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 17, 2016
MLFB takes starting position

Spring football league readies for the gridiron, despite financial hurdle.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch junior guard Devin Twenty scored nine points.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 16, 2016
Lakewood Ranch headed to regional final

The Lakewood Ranch boys basketball team beat Fort Myers Riverdale 57-44 Feb. 16.

  • East County
  • Sports
Girls Inc. of Sarasota County Executive Director Angie Stringer with 2016 Girl of the Year Tyesha Brown
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • February 16, 2016
SHS senior named Girl of the Year

Girls Inc. of Sarasota County names Tyesha Brown as the 2016 Girl of the Year

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Co-owner Jesse Biter attributed the early buzz surrounding Sol's NYC Deli to chef Solomon Shenker's history in the area: "He's been here for 20 years, and people love him."
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 16, 2016
Sol’s NYC Deli opens on Main Street

Solomon Shenker left Sol Meyer’s New York Delicatessen to open a new restaurant on the east side of downtown Sarasota, moving into the former Applebee’s space at Main Plaza.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jack Short
  • February 16, 2016
Siesta Key Public Beach opens in four days

Here's a sneak peak at the new pavilion and amenities.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
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Informational signs posted on Longboat beaches

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