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Your Observer

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray is the director of a department that’s in the middle of a staffing crisis. (Kurt Schultheis)
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 8, 2015
PZ&B scrambles to keep up with permits

With the Longboat Key's building department hitting record-breaking permits numbers this year, the town is searching to find extra staff to keep up with a contractor demand for permits.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key firefighter/paramedics want the Longboat Key Town Commission to tell them what they are worth.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 8, 2015
Millage rate stays flat at 2.1763 mills

The $504,061 increase from Longboat Key property value increases, along with other line item adjustments, reduces an estimated $426,000 deficit to $389,675.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 8, 2015
Cops Corner: Longboat Key 7.09.15

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
The exterior of the social center building will feature a wraparound veranda, a covered patio, an outdoor entertaining area with grills and a fire pit, and all new landscaping. (courtesy rendering)
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 8, 2015
Players Club undergoes $1.3 million renovation

Longboat Key Players Club unit owners approved a $1.3 million construction project for a new social center last year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Marvin Jaffe, 78, was found lying at the bottom of his pool in the 600 block of Halyard Lane around 10:30 a.m. June 23.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 8, 2015
Country Club Shores man found dead in pool

Country Club Shores man was found dead in the bottom of his swimming pool June 23, according to a Longboat Key police report.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Rick and Carol Ohlendorf, of Panther Ridge, say Pine Island should be protected.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 8, 2015
County, SWFWMD seek solution for Pine Island

SWFWMD, owner of the 66-acre Pine Island, hopes to have another entity assume ownership.

  • East County
  • News
Wendy will now raise her three cygnets without Stan.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 8, 2015
Stan sings his last swan song

Longboat said goodbye to Stan the swan on July 1.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Marla Doss, 55, started as residential director at Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities 30 years ago; now, she's president and CEO.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 8, 2015
Conversation with Marla Doss

Marla Doss, CEO and president of Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities, hit her 30th anniversary June 25.

  • East County
  • News
Unit 1 at 360 North, 260 N. Shore Road, has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,077 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,335,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 8, 2015
Three-bedroom 360 North condo sells for $1,335,000

A condominium at 360 North tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Annette Rogers
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 8, 2015
Annette Rogers opens house with two new partners

Annette Rogers has formed a new realty group with Perry Corneau and Vittoria Rutigliano.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics' Derrian Gobourne has been a Level 10 gymnast for the past three seasons.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 8, 2015
Rising to the Top

Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics’ Derrian Gobourne is one of the top Level 10 gymnasts in the nation.

  • East County
  • Sports
Glatz shares "Kasztner's Train," a book by Anna Porter about Rudolf Kasztner effort to save 1,684 Jews during the Holocaust.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 8, 2015
Conversation with Rifka Glatz

Holocaust survivor Rifka Glatz shares her story.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Eva Rey is the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 8, 2015
Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch welcomes new president

Eva Rey takes on another community role as the new president of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Florence Katz
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 8, 2015
Florence Katz at 100: ‘I’ve loved every day’

Longtime Sarasota philanthropist Florence Katz turns 100 July 9.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 8, 2015
Letters deliver common ground to East County, Israeli student

Since Haile Middle School student Natalie Mount formed a pen pal relationship with an Israeli girl, Lia Silber, political unrest has eased. Now their letters focus less on turmoil and more on teen talk.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 7, 2015
County to net $11.4 million in BP settlement

Sarasota County commissioners on Tuesday accepted the county's portion of oil company's $18.7 billion settlement of lawsuits filed in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The State Street garage is nearing completion, but you won't be able to park in it for another two weeks.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 7, 2015
State Street parking garage opening delayed, again

The city has announced another multi-week delay for the opening of the State Street garage, pushing back the completion of the project until the week of July 20.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Doreen Steinhauser submitted this photo, taken near the Bridge Tender Inn on Bradenton Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 7, 2015
Longboat Key photo contest winner: July 9

Doreen Steinhauser submitted this photo, taken near the Bridge Tender Inn on Bradenton Beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Carolyn Eliason submitted this photo of a duck and her nine ducklings, taken near her home in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 7, 2015
East County photo contest winner: July 9

Carolyn Eliason submitted this photo of a duck and her nine ducklings, taken near her home in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
File photo. Sarasota Memorial Hospital helped earn the city of Sarasota the title of No. 1 for lowest hospital readmission numbers, complications and deaths.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 7, 2015
Sarasota Memorial earns city No. 1 ranking

Sarasota Memorial Hospital helped earn the city of Sarasota the title of No. 1 for lowest hospital readmission numbers, complications and deaths in BetterDoctor report.

  • Sarasota
  • News
If the commission ultimately approves the charter referendum, voters will have a chance to decide whether to move municipal elections to the fall.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 7, 2015
City OKs consideration of referendum on fall elections

At a future meeting, the Sarasota City Commission will hold a public hearing regarding a ballot initiative that would move municipal elections to the fall of even-numbered years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Friends and relatives of Donna Chen built a flower memorial on Midnight Pass Road in 2012, after Chen was killed by a drunk driver.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 7, 2015
County settles suit related to death of Donna Chen

Sarasota County commissioners Tuesday approved a $200,000 settlement with the estate of Donna Chen, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2012.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Haile Middle School students eagerly prepare for the national competition. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 7, 2015
TSA students rock nationals

Haile and Nolan Middle schools ranked No. 1 and No. 2 nationally at the 2015 TSA national competition.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock recommends holding the island’s operating millage rate flat at the current rate of 2.1763 mills.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 7, 2015
Millage rate stays flat at 2.1763 mills

The $504,061 increase from Longboat Key property value increases, along with other line item adjustments, reduces an estimated $426,000 deficit to $389,675.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 6, 2015
Operation Kindness goes to L’Europe

Café L’Europe showed its red, white and blue for Operation Kindness Florida, Inc. on its Community Monday Night on July 6.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 6, 2015
Cops Corner: East County 07.09.2015

East County Cops Corner

  • East County
  • Cops Corner
Rosemary District leaders such as Ian Black have expressed support for the expansion of the Downtown Improvement District.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 6, 2015
City Commission moves toward creation of DID expansion taskforce

As Downtown Improvement District leaders look to expand the taxing body into the Rosemary District, the City Commission has offered a preliminary seal of approval.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tonight's meeting will take place at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • July 6, 2015
Commission sets maximum millage tonight

Town Manager Dave Bullock recommends a millage rate that’s flat at 2.1763.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 6, 2015
Darwin’s on 4th closes

Chef Darwin Santa Maria closed the popular Peruvian restaurant in the Rosemary District this week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 6, 2015
County Commission to discuss mobility fee

Sarasota County commissioners will discuss a new way to charge developers for transportation improvements during a regular meeting Tuesday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 6, 2015
District 26 All-Stars swing for the fences

The Braden River and Lakewood Ranch Little League All-Star teams hit the field for their respective District 26 Little League All-Star tournaments, which began June 24 and ran through July 2.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 6, 2015
Monsters defend their turf

Four Manasota Monsters lacrosse teams won championships at the annual Rippin’ at the Ranch lacrosse tournament June 27 and June 28, at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
This home at 8321 Catamaran Circle has three bedrooms, four and a half baths, a pool and 3,932 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,329,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 6, 2015
Lake Club home sells for $1,329,000

Here are the residential real estate transactions for East County from June 22 through June 26.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Sally Kenel, Connie Toops, Kathryn Sisco, Bob Kenel and Tim Toops
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 4, 2015
Redeemer celebrates Fourth of July with fellowship

In preparation for the Independence Day celebration, members of Church of the Redeemer set up foldable chairs and blankets along the lawn of the chapel July 4.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 4, 2015
Bird Key Yacht Club shows its patriotic pride

Bird Key Yacht Club celebrated the Fourth of July with fireworks, games and a dinner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jada Constant, Amelia Haylett and Paige Thompson
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • July 4, 2015
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce's 25th anniversary Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration and VIP Party

The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce hosted its 25th anniversary Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration and VIP Party on Saturday, July 4, at Siesta Key Public Beach

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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