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Your Observer

Two Sarasota suspects confessed to stealing $152,000 in jewelry from a Country Club Shores home this week.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 27, 2015
Police recover $104,000 in missing jewelry

Police believe a couple pawned at least $152,000 worth of jewelry from a home.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Forrest Schield with his dog, Penny, in March.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • May 27, 2015
Forrest Schield, 22, is cancer free and ready to resume a normal life

Nearly a year after his diagnosis with a rare skin cancer, Forrest Schield, 22, is ready to resume a normal life.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Commissioner Pat Zunz, pictured at the Longbeach Village bus stop, keeps an eye on the Manatee County School District, including the $10 million and the handful of children the town sends to it. Photo by Heather Merriman
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 27, 2015
Q+A with Pat Zunz

Longboat Key Commissioner Pat Zunz has represented District 5 for four years and previously served on the Planning and Zoning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Letters to the editor 5.28.15

Raise player fees to raise funds; Third bridge is the only solution

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 5.28.2015

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
This home at 8006 Collingwood Court has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,581 square feet of living area. It sold for $830,000. Photo by Jessica Salmond
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 27, 2015
Richmond Park home sells for $830,000

A home in Richmond Park tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Nature lover Joe Sidiski walks trails weekly at state parks with his wife, Bonnie. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 27, 2015
Conversation with Joe Sidiski

Joe Sidiski’s love for ponds, wildlife and all things nature didn’t start in 2004, when he moved to the Greenbrook community.

  • East County
  • News
Diane Proios checks Town Planner Maika Arnold’s blood pressure at the Longboat Key health fair May 21. Photo by Kristen Herhold
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • May 27, 2015
Town provides helping of healthy eating tips

The town will host a wellness program for town employees and those who live and work on the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 27, 2015
Sidelines

Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics wins gold; Esplanade launches tennis program; Pirates prep for summer camp; Ellenton Ice names new coach

  • East County
  • Sports
This home at 211 Robin Drive on Bird Key has four bedrooms, five and a half baths, a pool and 6,149 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.8 million. Photo by Kristen Herhold
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 27, 2015
Four-bedroom Bird Key home sells for $3.8 million

A home on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 27, 2015
Sound off: Steube, Gonzalez, Gause

Reps. Greg Steube and Julio Gonzalez and School Board Chairman Bob Gause discuss top issues with the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Cops Corner 5.28.2015

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 27, 2015
Central Park: The seven-member wonder

Meet those who make up the community’s first resident-led HOA board.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 27, 2015
Will Sarasota County show Bayfront Park the money?

Longboaters sent more than $487 million in ad valorem taxes to Sarasota County in the past 10 years. That includes $13 million-plus toward a county environment and parklands program. Here’s what it got the town: Zero dollars for park maintenance and upkee

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bradenton Christian shortstop David Hinkel will continue his baseball career next year at Southeastern University, in Lakeland. Photo by Jen Blanco
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 27, 2015
Streaking Slugfest

Bradenton Christian’s David Hinkel posted a 25-game hitting streak this season while leading the team in batting average.

  • East County
  • Sports
Pig trapper regulations were sparked by a recently adopted alligator trapping permit system in Lakewood Ranch. Photo courtesy of Florida Fish & WildlifeConservation Commission
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 27, 2015
Feral hog population rebounds in Edgewater

CDD 2 residents want to stop the feral pig population from flying out of control.

  • East County
  • News
The proposed 20-acre Lost Lagoon waterpark will feature a coaster slide, 20,000-square-foot wave pool with a simulated beach and 2,667-foot-long lazy river.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 27, 2015
Who’s behind efforts to construct the Lost Lagoon in Manatee County?

Who’s behind efforts to construct a regional water park in Manatee County?

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Calling all angels

Nearly 100 East County residents earned their wings for an afternoon.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Correct posture (left) vs. “chicken head” (right) is posture, which is a forward tilt of your neck.
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • May 27, 2015
AEROBIC GRANDMA | “Chicken head” posture: Causes and cures

My partner in this month’s column is a fully qualified expert: John Sutherland, P.T.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Keller Williams Select at Lakewood Ranch associates celebrate RED Day by volunteering at the Salvation Army in Sarasota. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2015
Business briefs

Hillstrom named in two lists of top physicians; Microsoft opens June 11 at UTC Mall; Taylor Morrison debuts new home collection; Keller Williams celebrates RED Day; Legend Senior Living program wins safety award

  • East County
  • News
Forward Sarah Miller scored three game-winning goals and added a pair of assists during her senior season at the University of South Florida.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • May 27, 2015
Forward scores with Icelandic Thor/Ka league

Former Lakewood Ranch and USF soccer player Sarah Miller will live and play in the ‘land of ice and snow’ for the next four months.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 26, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade honors U.S. servicemembers

Residents and visitors gathered to celebrate at the parade Sunday.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Although the project is still in conceptual phases, this preliminary rendering illustrates the end goal of creating a unified HuB campus when the new apartments are in place.
    By
  • David Conway
  • May 26, 2015
Biter plans HuB apartment complex

The Downtown Improvement District endorsed Jesse Biter’s plans for a 90-unit apartment building next to the HuB business incubator at a meeting today.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A dilapidated seawall that needs repaired at 759 St. Judes Drive N. has caused a rift between the commission and its code board.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 26, 2015
Code board asks town commission for seawall fix

Did the Longboat Key Code Enforcement Board code board neglect its duty when it asked the commission if the town of Longboat Key would pay for repairs?

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2015
Investigation of Sarasota arrestee's death continues

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office still has not determined the cause of death of 33-year-old John Paul Kaffi, who died in Sarasota Police Department custody earlier this month.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Do you think Manatee County high schools should start classes at 7:30 a.m. rather than 7:45?
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 26, 2015
Manatee County School Board addresses earlier school start time

The Manatee County School Board will discuss whether to make high schools, such as Braden River and Lakewood Ranch, start classes earlier.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2015
DUI suspected in U.S. 41 crash

he Sarasota Police Department closed the section of Mound Avenue between Osprey Avenue and U.S. 301 this morning, after a single-vehicle crash sent car fluids across the roadway.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Riley Ellis, Jenna Bates, Delaney Arnold and Jordan Bates made signs to show their support for the Memorial Day Parade.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • May 25, 2015
Residents pack Main Street for Memorial Day Parade

There was no shortage of patriotism or residents for the annual Sarasota Memorial Day Parade on Main Street Monday, May 25.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Adam Martin with Crewe of DeSoto
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 24, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Main Street attracts residents for Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade

Residents and visitors gathered to watch the Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade Sunday night on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Janice Myers takes a moment at the gravesite for her husband Henry at the Sarasota National Cemetery.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • May 24, 2015
Sarasota National Cemetery remembers with Memorial Day ceremony

Families, visitors and veterans were welcomed to the hollow grounds of the Sarasota National Cemetery for the Memorial Day Ceremony Sunday, May 24.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Madeline Del Medico poses for a photo after receiving her diploma.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • May 22, 2015
Cardinal Mooney celebrates seniors with commencement ceremony

Parents and friends gathered to congratulate students as they took their final steps before graduating from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School Friday, May 22 at the Van Wezel Performing Art Hall.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Jessica Radcliffe and her son, Wyatt, collected beads at last year's parade.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • May 22, 2015
WEEKEND BEST BET: Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade

Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade will feature a range of floats May 24 on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 22, 2015
FYI Friday: Sarasota craft brewers tap into booming industry

This week's FYI Friday features news about Sarasota's newest craft brewery, an update on the Colony saga on Longboat Key and more!

  • Sarasota
  • News
Two Sarasota suspects confessed to stealing $152,000 in jewelry from a Country Club Shores home this week.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 22, 2015
Police recover $104,000 in missing jewelry

Two Sarasota suspects were allegedly involved in a jewelry theft in the 700 block of Putter Lane on Longboat Key that involved stealing multiple pieces of jewelry from a Country Club Shores home since February.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County Commission candidate Fredd Atkins, right, recently led a home tour for the Longboat Key Garden Club.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 22, 2015
Fredd Atkins to run for County Commission

The city of Sarasota’s first black mayor sets his sights on the District 1 seat on the Sarasota County Commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Brandon Stoddart, fourth grade, gives Serendipity the llama some bunny ears.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • May 22, 2015
Bashaw Elementary celebrates North America at Art and Music Festival

Each year, students perform and display artwork that represents the culture they learned about during the year.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
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The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
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