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Your Observer

    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 30, 2015
In Bloom: President and CEO for Selby Gardens

Jennifer Rominiecki started as the new President and CEO for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in January.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Whitney Beach Plaza is also home to Longbeach Café, Design 200 and other long-term tenants.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 30, 2015
Whitney Beach Plaza attracts kayak shop

A new store that offers offer new and used kayaks and paddleboards for sale is coming to Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Melinda Jeter, Cindy Schultz, and Jeannette Kennedy are the three main vacation Bible school organizers. "Jeanette's the lead singer, I'm the lead guitarist, and Cindy is the base drummer in this," said Jeter.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 30, 2015
RiverLife vacation Bible school compete for crazy hair day

Children earned points for participating in group activities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
7044 Beechmont Terrace, Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 30, 2015
Home in the Concession sells for $1,325,000

Find out what neighborhood homes sold for July 13 through July 17.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Courtesy photo. Michael Carlo, Hannah Carlo and Rep. Vern Buchanan.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 30, 2015
Campaigning for children

Carlo was diagnosed at age 4 with type 1 diabetes and her family had since been helping to fundraise to support research.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ed Harris on the set for "A Flash of Green" in 1983.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 30, 2015
This week in history 7.30.15

A glimpse of the way things were from the archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Once a hotspot for large gatherings of homeless individuals and drug dealers, the stretch of Central Avenue in front of the Salvation Army is clear today.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 30, 2015
Salvation Army helps clear Rosemary District streets

The Salvation Army has cleaned up the sidewalks in front of its Central Avenue facility, but Rosemary District stakeholders are still concerned about homelessness issues in the area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Downtown Improvement District board member Ron Soto thinks the Five Points Park benches, removed for good in 2012, should be brought back.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 30, 2015
Could benches return to Five Points Park?

A downtown leader is attempting to rally support to add benches at the downtown park. More than three years after benches were removed, can his proposal gain traction?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Swiss Day Preschool owner Janet Hember has decided to retire and close the school after 30 years in the Oyster Bay community.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 30, 2015
Swiss Miss: Swiss Day Preschool closes after 30 years

Oyster Bay community bids farewell to Swiss Day Preschool.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 30, 2015
Cops Corner: Sarasota 07.30.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
File photo. Sarabande
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 30, 2015
Coral Cove home sells for $3,218,000

The following residential real estate transactions took place between July 13 and July 17.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Military personnel from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa arrived to retrieve the flare. Photo courtesy Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 29, 2015
Military flare found on Siesta Key

MacDill Air Force Base military personnel retrieved the item.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This rendering of the proposed building — ruled a major revision of the original site plan — shows the building, including the preserved facade of the DeMarcay Hotel building.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 29, 2015
DeMarcay highrise plans hit setback

A developer's plans to construct an 18-story mixed-use building at the site of the DeMarcay Hotel have been jeopardized following a city ruling this week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Manatee County school board Aug. 11 will discuss line item specifics of its 2015-2016 school year budget.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 29, 2015
Manatee County school board mulls over budget draft

A 4.37% increase in the Manatee County School District's property tax levy will help pump more dollars into the slated $600 million budget for the 2015-2016 school year.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 29, 2015
Progress in education

In spite of all you hear and read about too much testing and not enough money being spent on education, Florida students are improving.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Team Corgi members participate in a walkathon fundraiser for Southeastern Guide Dogs. The organization will hold a walkathon in Lakewood Ranch in April 2016. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 29, 2015
Calendar for July 30

Find out what's happening this week in East County.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 29, 2015
East County Cops Corner 07.30.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 29, 2015
OBITUARY | Arden Fowler

Arden Fowler died July 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The home at 121 S. Washington Drive has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,778 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 29, 2015
Three-bedroom St. Armands Key home sells for $1.95 million

The home at 121 S. Washington Drive has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,778 square feet of living area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Lazy Lobster bartenders Mackenzie Flanagan and Courtney Rossler
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 29, 2015
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere

With Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant gone, what will be your new favorite happy hour spot?

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
A common grackle prepares to feed.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 29, 2015
Save Our Seabirds migrates to baby bird season

Think twice before attempting to rescue a baby bird that appears to be injured.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 29, 2015
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 7.30.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 29, 2015
News Briefs: Longboat Key 7.23.15

St. Armands Circle clinic variance requests revived; Island mayors wary of mainland growth

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock discusses Key issues with the Longboat Observer.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 29, 2015
Bullock bytes: Town manager sounds off

Dave Bullock sits down with the Longboat Observer monthly to discuss town issues.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Will a referendum that asks if the town’s electorate wants to fund the burying of overhead power lines and utilities on Gulf of Mexico Drive fail?
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 29, 2015
Undergrounding: Too little, too late?

The town of Longboat Key will hold workshops beginning in September to educate residents about the Nov. 3 GMD utilities referendum. But some wonder if it’s time enough to get the word out before the vote.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Human Resources Manager Lisa Silvertooth has worked to create a new merit-based incentive increase program for Longboat Key general employees in the last year.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 29, 2015
Town wagers on merit pay

Not all Longboat Key general employees are due to make the same wage increase. A new system doles out cash based on performance in the past fiscal year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Catcher John Schroeder and his teammates have only allowed two runs in five games.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 29, 2015
State Bound

The Lakewood Ranch Little League 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars will compete in the Florida State Tournament July 31 and Aug. 1, in Tallahassee.

  • East County
  • Sports
Toby Madison works with Lakewood Ranch freshman Matthew Dugan on ball handling during a private lesson.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 29, 2015
Scoring Range

Lakewood Ranch High JV boys basketball coach Toby Madison started Mid-Range Game to offer offensive skills camps and clinics to local players.

  • East County
  • Sports
Justin Norwood, with his daughter, Bekah, worries approving the Lakewood National/Bridgewater East development will compound traffic problems on State Road 70.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 29, 2015
Lennar plans Lakewood Ranch expansion

Panther Ridge residents worry the company’s plans for nearly 2,000 homes east of Lorraine Road will further compound traffic woes on S.R.70

  • East County
  • News
“I think a lot of people do research, but I feel I’m really doing something helpful,” says Lakewood Ranch Country Club resident and researcher Cecile Lengacher. “Each new study we find out (more).”
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 29, 2015
East County researcher combats 'chemo-brain' with focus

Cecile Lengacher believes casting worries aside can help memory and concentration in cancer survivors. Now, she's going to prove it.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall's operations department is testing out three LED light tones at six streetlights near the intersection of River Club and Lakewood Ranch boulevards.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 29, 2015
Town Hall asks residents to LED the way

As Lakewood Ranch prepares for a LED street light conversion, it seeks input from the community.

  • East County
  • News
Construction signs show the project will start Aug. 1.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 29, 2015
Edgewater signal installation begins

Manatee County will begin work Aug. 1.

  • East County
  • News
Kevin Ingle, major reconstruction design engineer for FDOT District 1, answers questions from attendees as they view maps of the project July 23.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 29, 2015
'Ultimate' configuration begins

FDOT starts work Aug. 3 on the diverging diamond concept for University Parkway and I-75.

  • East County
  • News
Cliff Kaplan, president of the Lakewood Ranch Dog Park, and his dog, Travis, regularly walk around Greenbrook Adventure Park. At the request of Town Hall, Kaplan's asking fellow dog park members to share the road when they drive to the park.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 29, 2015
Drivers asked to share the road

CDD 4 seeks improved safety leading into Ranch dog park.

  • East County
  • News
Angie Stringer sits with a group of kindergarten and first-grade girls at a summer program. The girls had a fairy tale day and dressed up like princesses.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 29, 2015
Conversation with Angie Stringer

The new executive director of Girls Inc. isn't new to the organization.

  • East County
  • News
Before coming to Longboat, Gail Loefgren served as mayor of Rochelle, Ill., an experience that helped her prepare for being the face of Longboat’s chamber.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 29, 2015
Conversation with Gail Loefgren

Q&A with Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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