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Your Observer

Courtesy photo. Twin brothers Graham and Reid Devitt.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 2, 2015
Breaking ground

Pine View School senior Reid Devitt spent last weekend leading the project to replant the St. Mary’s Children's Garden at Church of the Redeemer.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Judy Athari sports her hat, which she crafted herself.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 1, 2015
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance members don leis for social hour

Members networked amid a tropical theme.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Our View
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 1, 2015
Our View: The spirit of liberty defined

We publish our annual “Spirit of America” section — with the hope we can capture and keep alive some of the values and characteristics that have defined American exceptionalism since our nation’s founding 239 years ago.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 1, 2015
Developer plans North Trail apartments

After buying the Monterey Village Inn for $1 million last year, Elia Rofail has brought in local architect Brent Parker and engineer Matt Morris to redevelop the property.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jahna Leinhauser with the Chamber encourages business owners to buy locally.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 1, 2015
Manatee County Chamber hosts July luncheon

Local businesses spent the meal hour networking over barbecue.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mary Nell Moore submitted this sunset photo, taken overlooking Sarasota Bay.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 1, 2015
Sarasota photo contest winner: July 2

Mary Nell Moore submitted this sunset photo, taken overlooking Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 1, 2015
Cops Corner: Sarasota 07.02.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
McFate has been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution since the 1970s.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 1, 2015
A patriotic perspective

East County resident Mary Lou McFate shows patriotism every day, not just Independence Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Virginia Sanders will be this year's grand marshal.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 1, 2015
Longboat to have an all-American celebration

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce is still looking for volunteers at its annual Fourth of July Freedom Fest.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tetsu Sato, of RIHN, checks a scallop-monitoring device for juvenile scallops on March 25, 2015 at a restoration site off Ken Thompson Park in Sarasota Bay. (Courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory)
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 1, 2015
Japanese institute looks to implement Mote policies

The Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Kyoto, Japan is conducting a five-year study on Mote’s positive relations with the Sarasota community.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Bill Carman moved to Longbeach Village with his family in 1969 . He says the Village is the best place to live and he still lives in the same house he bought more than 40 years ago.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 1, 2015
Q&A with Bill Carman

A Longbeach Village resident since 1969, Bill Carman sits down with the Longboat Observer to discuss town issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 1, 2015
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 7.02.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association Jay Yablon says it's time for his association to take control of the resort's destiny.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 1, 2015
Colony Association piling up settlement cash

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association is assessing unit owners $29,000 apiece in the next fiscal year to garner $6.8 million in settlement cash.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The former Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort will be called Zota Beach Resort when its new hotel reopens in 2016.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 1, 2015
Former Hilton becomes Zota Beach Resort

Zota Beach Resort, the new name of the former Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort, will open in late 2016.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Residents told Town Manager Dave Bullock at any event he was at this season that they are sick and tired of the seasonal traffic gridlock that forces many of them to stay home.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 1, 2015
Traffic issues open drawbridge review

Relief could come to Longboat Key drivers fuming over frequent drawbridge openings. But don't expect life in the fast lane for next season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key’s registered voters will vote in November on a $25.25 million Gulf of Mexico Drive power pole and utilities undergrounding project.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 1, 2015
GMD undergrounding referendum surges forward

The future of Gulf of Mexico Drive utilities is on the line for November's ballot, but some residents have concerns about how to proceed with burying utilities islandwide.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Foundation Chairman Bob Simmons has its sights set on a location for the Longboat Key Center for Healthy Living in and around Bay Isles Road and Bay Isles Parkway where a future town center concept is proposed. (Kurt Schultheis)
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 1, 2015
LBK Foundation: The $1.6 million dose of medicine

The Longboat Key Foundation's new fundraising effort seeks to create the Longboat Key Center for Healthy Living before seasonal residents return.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This home at 6927 Westchester Circle has six bedrooms, five and a half baths, a pool and 10,144 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 1, 2015
Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch home sells for $1.8 million

See a listing of home sales here.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch's Damon Murray and Sam Jackson already both received a pair of scholarship offers this summer.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 1, 2015
Recruiting Trail

Lakewood Ranch High football players Sam Jackson and Damon Murray both have received multiple college offers.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 1, 2015
Community Haven rolls in Tootsie Roll dough

The Knights of Columbus Council No. 15332 donated proceeds to Lakewood Ranch-based Community Haven from its annual Tootsie Roll Drive, or Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Emily Yu assists Eric and Adrienne Brady with their devices.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 1, 2015
UTC offers East County children windows to explore technology

The Hour of Code event, held at The Mall at University Town Center (UTC), offered a one-hour interactive forum to teach computer basics to youth ages 8 to 17.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dr. Cindy Hornback and Dr. Heather Crawford present the donation to Vanessa Morris(center), of Selah Freedom.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 1, 2015
Hornback Chiropractic and Wellness supports local nonprofit

East County-based holistic health center, Hornback Chiropractic and Wellness, donated more than $800 in June to Selah Freedom.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Manatee County School Board members Dave Miner, Mary Cantrell, Bob Gause, Karen Carpenter and Charlie Kennedy are considering whether to add two more members to their group.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 1, 2015
Seven up?

Manatee County voters could decide the lucky number for the Manatee County School Board next year.

  • East County
  • News
Esha Shah and Bella Romo show Irma Byrd (center) how to navigate around Facebook.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 1, 2015
Tech Buddies shatters digital age gap

East County teen volunteers connect with seniors to help them embrace new technologies, through Tech Buddies program at the Braden River Branch Library.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 1, 2015
East County calendar for July 2 week

Find out what's happening in your neighborhood!

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 1, 2015
Cops Corner: East County 07.02.15

Here's a peak at the area's incident reports from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Roxane Caravan says one of the most important things she tries to teach students is that they can't focus on being "the star." To make a production successful, everyone must work together.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 1, 2015
Conversation with Roxane Caravan

Roxane Caravan will start her 16th year teaching musical theater at Lakewood Ranch High School in August.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 1, 2015
On the rise: Home values beat expectations

East County property values will increase by 7.02%, an amount that's higher than the countywide average of 5.42%.

  • East County
  • News
Nancy's Bar-B-Q owner Nancy Krohngold expects to open the Lakewood Ranch location within eight weeks, or by the end of summer.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 1, 2015
Nancy's Bar-B-Q preps for Lakewood Ranch opening

FDOT considers signage request for Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • News
The proposed cell tower site was located at the front of the River Club Golf Club property, just north of the parking lot, in an open area adjacent to the pump station.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 1, 2015
Manatee County wins cell tower case

A judge has ruled that Manatee County was OK to deny a cell tower application within River Club more than five years ago.

  • East County
  • News
**Julie Smith and her daughter, Amanda, are leaders of two Lakewood Ranch Women's Giving Circles, which donate money to local charities.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 1, 2015
Central Park resident comes full circle with Giving Circle

After a childhood of watching her mother and father donate their time and money to helping charities, 26-year-old attorney and Central Park resident Amanda Smith is following in her family's footsteps with her new Giving Circle — Cheers for Charity.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 1, 2015
Local Sons of the American Revolution chapter induct new member

Members must have ancestry tied to the Revolutionary War.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Co-Chairs Tia Castle and Lucy Nicandri
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • June 30, 2015
A Nautical Night of Giving

A Nautical Night of Giving kicks off Power Boat Grand Prix Festival

  • Black Tie
Todd Mathes, Benderson's director of development, addresses the board.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • June 30, 2015
Commission approves UTC expansion

Sarasota County commissioners today granted Benderson Development the approvals it needs to build more retail and commercial structures at its University Town Center project.

  • East County
  • News
The city will continue to consider how to eliminate the general fund deficit during budget discussions next month.
    By
  • David Conway
  • June 30, 2015
Rising revenues shrink city budget gap

At a budget workshop Monday evening, city staff said they wouldn’t recommend a millage rate increase to help eliminate a smaller-than-usual deficit for recent years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Suzanne Tomlin submitted this sunset photo, taken on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 30, 2015
Longboat Key photo contest winner: July 2

Suzanne Tomlin submitted this sunset photo, taken on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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