Your Observer

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

Grads: Contact us to be featured in our graduation special

Do you know a soon-to-be graduate who lives on Longboat, Lido, St. Armands or Bird keys?

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

Last chance: stone crab season ends May 15

It’s that time of year: Turtles are nesting, snowbirds have vanished, and you have one more week to savor stone crabs.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

Scouting out fun

Two hundred Girl Scouts from Lakewood Ranch recently hosted the 2015 International Day Festival in the Lakewood Ranch High School cafeteria.

East County
Neighbors

Kurt Schultheis
May 6, 2015

Mark Walsh: No vote on Islandside could bring more traffic

Ocean Properties’ Mark Walsh says voters should check ‘yes’ on their May 12 referendum ballots if they don’t want more traffic on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Longboat Key
News

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

What's Happening: Week of May 7 2015

Siesta Key Code Enforcement officer to retire; SMH gains Level II trauma status

Sarasota
News

Adam Hughes
May 6, 2015

Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch home sells for $957,500

A home in Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

East County
Real Estate

Adam Hughes
May 6, 2015

John Ringling Estates home sells for $2.25 million

A home in John Ringling Estates tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Longboat Key
Real Estate

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

Longboat Key photo contest winner: May 7

Cheryl Moore submitted this photo of an ibis, taken on Lido Key.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

East County photo contest winner: May 7

Anne McCunney submitted this photo of a sandhill crane family, taken in Bradenton.

East County
Neighbors

Jessica Salmond
May 6, 2015

Kehillah of LWR affiliates with national network

The congregation joins the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

East County
News

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

Attention, globe trotters: Five months left to submit photos for the ‘It’s Read Everywhere’ contest

Attention, globe trotters: You have five months left to submit photos for the ‘It’s Read Everywhere’ contest.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | Sound off: Referendum

We asked for your traffic solutions in our April 30 editorial, “Send in your vote,” and you responded. Keep the dialogue going by emailing your opinions to Managing Editor Robin Hartill at [email protected].

Longboat Key
Opinion

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

Rotary Kids Club reaches high of five

Attendance at the Rotary Club of Longboat Key Kids Club was up 150% at its May 1 gathering over its inaugural March 27 get-together: The Kids Club drew five children, compared to the first Kids Club, which garnered two young attendees.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 6, 2015

Operation Kindness raises $65,000

The tally is in for the March 31 Operation Kindness event at the Longboat Key Club: The event raised $65,000 for Operation Kindness Florida, a nonprofit organization with the mission of raising funds for veterans who have sustained emotional and physical trauma

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 5, 2015

LWR women give moms hope

East County
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 5, 2015

Surprise Celebration

East County
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 5, 2015

Go Green

Members of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic, in Lakewood Ranch, celebrated Care for God’s Creation Weekend (Earth Day) April 18

East County
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 5, 2015

Charitable Swing

The Meadows Country Club remembered a longtime committee member and made charitable contributions to Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation

East County
Neighbors

Kristen Herhold
May 5, 2015

Plymouth Harbor enjoys its "Feathers"

Lou Newman held his ninth annual wildlife photography exhibit on May 5.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Kurt Schultheis
May 5, 2015

Bullock: Firefighter hiring won’t be problem

The town manager doesn’t believe pay/pension issues will ignite hiring concerns.

Longboat Key
News

Jessica Salmond
May 5, 2015

Lakewood Ranch Imagine Schools students prepare for Washington D.C. trip

Retired Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sentinel presented to eighth-graders yesterday.

East County
Schools

Kurt Schultheis
May 5, 2015

Luckiest P&Z Board members could be niners

The Longboat Key Town Commission seeks strength through fewer board members, plus up to nine years in a board seat.

Longboat Key
News

Jessica Salmond
May 5, 2015

Sarasota County Code Enforcement Officer John Lally to retire from Siesta Key

Lally served on Siesta Key for 13 years.

Sarasota
News

Jessica Salmond
May 5, 2015

Siesta Key Village Association considers canceling Siesta Fiesta

After 37 years on the Siesta Key, the Siesta Fiesta arts and crafts festival could be canceled next year due to negative feedback from local businesses.

Sarasota
News

Pam Eubanks
May 5, 2015

Water park negotiations a 'go'

Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker today authorized negotiations with Manatee Lost Lagoon Development for the creation of a water park at Tom Bennett Park.

East County
News

David Conway
May 5, 2015

Development raises questions about attainable housing standards

The city of Sarasota is allowing a developer to move ahead with plans for a residential project near Laurel Park, but more discussion about affordable housing requirements remains. Also, the city makes a decision on a land swap with Ringling College.

Sarasota
News

Amanda Sebastiano
May 5, 2015

East County Bald Eagle dies after it's struck by car

After being hit by a vehicle Monday, May 4, a Bald Eagle died while Justin Matthews, of Matthews Wildlife Rescue, on the way to Bayshore Animal Hospital.

East County
News

Alex Mahadevan
May 5, 2015

Englewood man chokes Sarasota medical worker with stethoscope

Sarasota County deputies arrested 52-year-old John Connolly for allegedly attacking a physician’s assistant at Sarasota Family Medical Walk-In Clinic Monday, after a dispute over pain medication.

Sarasota
News

Amanda Sebastiano
May 5, 2015

Heritage Harbour South CDD budgets dollars for 2015-2016

The Heritage Harbour South Community Development District, CDD, will discuss its 2015-2016 fiscal budget May 5, at the Stoneybrook Golf Club, 8000 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton

East County
News

Kurt Schultheis
May 5, 2015

Dispatcher switch support: Then there was one

Longboat Key Commissioner Irwin Pastor used his commission comments at the end of the Monday’s regular meeting to announce he’s now fully supportive of Town Manager Dave Bullock’s recommendation to transition the town’s current 911 dispatch service

Longboat Key
News

Kristen Herhold
May 4, 2015

Mote says goodbye to Shark Lady

Mote celebrated the life of Dr. Eugenie Clark on May 4.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Alex Mahadevan
May 4, 2015

County Commission to consider new name for Siesta Key park

Sarasota County commissioners will consider renaming Bay Island park to honor longtime County Commissioner Nora Patterson Tuesday.

Sarasota
News

Alex Mahadevan
May 4, 2015

Sarasota Memorial gains Level II trauma center status

The Florida Department of Health has given provisional approval to Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s application to become Sarasota County’s only Level II trauma center.