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Your Observer

    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • July 4, 2015
Longboat celebrates Independence Day

Longboat residents, visitors and businesses kicked off their Fourth of July at Freedom Fest at Bicentennial Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • July 4, 2015
GreyHawk Landing Community 4th of July Parade

GreyHawk Landing Community hosted its 4th annual 4th of July Parade the morning of Saturday, July 4, through the streets of the neighborhood.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Harrison, Dave and Genevieve Pritchett at Bayfront Park for the fireworks show.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 4, 2015
Residents take in fireworks at Bayfront Park

By the water is where residents chose to wait for the Downtown Sarasota 4th of July fireworks display. Many set up picnics within Bayfront Park to watch the red, white and blue fireworks streak across the sky above the Sarasota Bay.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kelly Keller, Kevin Smith, Shelly Illig, Tim Herten and Renee Lilly ride along in the parade.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 3, 2015
Parade of Boats floats down Main Street

Parade showcases vehicles from the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 3, 2015
Primrose goes on parade

Children at Primrose showed their patriotism July 2.

  • East County
  • News
Following the 2013 denial of plans for a Walmart at the Ringling Shopping Center, the owners have taken legal action against the city several times.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 2, 2015
77 acceptable uses for the Ringling Shopping Center

In response to a legal claim from the owners of the commercial plaza, the city has crafted a list of potential projects the zoning code permits at the site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 2, 2015
Campers raise the barre with Sarasota Ballet

Pirouettes, plies and pique turns are all a part of the Sarasota Ballet Children's Summer Intensive Camp.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key condominium and single family home values rose an average of 5.3% island-wide.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 2, 2015
Longboat Key property values rise again

The property appraiser offices in Manatee and Sarasota counties are reporting a 5.3% increase in island property values.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 2, 2015
Letters to the editor: Sarasota 7.2.15

Sarasota Observer readers write letters to the editor

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 2, 2015
The Grande Riviera condo sells for $2.9 million

The following residential real estate transactions took place between June 15 and June 19.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Sarasota YMCA Sharks swimmer Keanan Dols was named to the Jamaican world junior championship team.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 2, 2015
Water World

Pine View School junior Keanan Dols will be the lone swimmer to represent Jamaica at the 5th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships Aug. 25 through Aug. 30.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Loretta Schwaner sits at her keyboard ready to play what she has learned in a year of lessons from Fletcher Music Center.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 2, 2015
Senior symphonies: love of music creates a community

Residents start musical hobby late in life through keyboard lessons offered at Fletcher Music Center.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gary Gibrith, throttle man for Super Hawaii, entertains a few of the children form the Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • July 2, 2015
This week in history 7.2.15

A glimpse of the way things were from the archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ringling Shopping Center owner Louis Doyle said whatever ends up on the property must make sense from a financial standpoint — which means it must be something residents are interested in using.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 2, 2015
Ringling Shopping Center owner speaks out on property’s future

Ringling Shopping Center owner Louis Doyle says he doesn't know what will end up on his property, but he is laying the groundwork to unite supporters behind whatever plans develop.

  • Sarasota
  • News
After relocating to Sarasota from the Portland area, Sustainability Director Stevie Freeman-Montes was impressed by the progress the city has made environmentally.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 2, 2015
Conversation with Stevie Freeman-Montes

The city's new sustainability manager offers her insight on how Sarasota can become more environmentally conscious.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Les McCurdy thinks Sarasota's existing sign ordinances place too big a burden on downtown businesses, and believes a common-sense solution is needed.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 2, 2015
New message: City seeks merchant input on sign regulations

Businesses and staff members offer their insight on the city’s current sign policies, set to get a thorough examination later this summer.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Urban Design Studio has shared a draft map of what they believe a built-out transit system could look like in Sarasota.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 2, 2015
Urban Design Studio envisions new density, transit options

The Urban Design Studio is writing zoning regulations focused on form over density. Can it change minds in a community fearful of high-density development?

  • Sarasota
  • News
Holley Short, the Audubon Society's bird steward coordinator, is responsible for recruiting and educating volunteers willing to watch over the black skimmer colony during this crucial nesting period.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 2, 2015
Volunteer stewards protect Lido black skimmer colony

As a colony of black skimmers settles into a new home on Lido Beach, a group of volunteers is ensuring beachgoers don’t interfere with the birds’ nesting season.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dendrobium blooms
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • July 2, 2015
Fedder family donates orchid collection to Selby Gardens

Joel Fedder's family ensures his legacy will live on through the donation of his orchid collection to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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
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