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Jan 8, 2025 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
Temple Beth Israel Music Director and Organist Ann Stephenson-Moe and Choir Soloist Kei Sulhi said they are more like sisters than just co-workers. “Ann actually knew my daughter before she knew me,” said Sulhi. “The first time she called me about a singing job was to hire my daughter, who was a child, to be in one of her productions.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
From Jan. 17-19, the Observer Challenge returns to Longboat Key. Hosted at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, the tennis tournament will keep players on their toes with a different format this year. "The center is already busy off the bat this season," said Tennis Center Manager Kay Thayer.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
On Jan. 1, about 60 to 70 residents of Seaplace Condominiums "braved" the "frigid" waters of the Gulf of Mexico for the annual Polar Plunge. Actually, with temperatures in the 70s, there wasn't much to brave, but the 20-year tradition carried on. "It has been cold in some years," said June Hessel, events chair at Seaplace.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
When walking into Christ Church of Longboat Key, one can’t help but notice the giant stained glass window behind the altar. Thirty-three panels of vibrant colors in blue, yellow, orange, red, white and brown make up the picture of a risen Jesus Christ with three fingers raised in a blessing while his other hand reaches out in a welcoming gesture.
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Jan 6, 2025 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
From the sun catchers down to the tablecloth, everything is handmade at Debbie Lemieux's booth at Market on the Key. "I like to keep everyone on their toes," said Lemieux. "So I knew it was important to change up my booth from last year."Lemieux uses repurposed paper, jewelry, utensils, bottles, fabric and kitchenware to make unique suncatchers, clothes, cards and other trinkets for her to sell at local markets.
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Dec 11, 2024 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
Every year on the clock, the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key would receive a shoebox full of coins from the same woman for their bell-ringing campaign. Somehow, the late Cash Register would always be the one to receive it. "I would get the call from Cash every year saying that the shoebox is here with bags of pennies and nickels and every coin," said President Chris Sachs. "It turned to a kind of joke."As the Kiwanians started its annual bell ringing for Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign on Nov.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
Tennis runs strong in the Schlorf family. Twenty-one years ago, the late Dick and Donna Schlorf started the Masters Clay Courts National Tennis Tournament to call tennis lovers from around the country to Longboat Key. Even though his parents have passed, Todd Schlorf still flies in every year to compete in honor of his family's legacy. And this year, he made it to the finals. From Dec. 2 to Dec.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
The residents at Longboat Harbour Condominiums love a friendly competition. As a first-time participant in Lighting of the Docks, Margarita Link noticed every time she added more lights to her dock, her neighbor's dock was brighter than before. Stopping at Link's dock, one learned everything they needed to know about her by its items, including a drink, a symbol of her home country and where she taught in her career. "I'm Margarita and I'm from Argentina," said Link, "So I'm serving margaritas.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
Candlelight services, Christmas caroling and Hanukkah dinners. No one celebrates the holidays better than the six congregations of Longboat Key. Here is a roundup of where to worship this holiday season on the island. All Angels By the Sea Episcopal ChurchRev. David Marshall, 563 Bay Isles RoadA Blue Christmas service will be held at 4 p.m. on Dec. 12 to offer prayers for lost loved ones. The Christmas Eve service will start at 5 p.m. Christ Church of Longboat Key Rev.
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Dec 8, 2024 | 
yourobserver.com | Petra Rivera
A mixed crowd of snowbirds, visitors, and full-time residents heard the famous holiday classic Santa Claus is Coming to Town echoing from every corner of St. Armands Circle on the evening of Dec. 6. While attendees sang classic Christmas carols led by a choir from St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, all heads tilted toward the 60-foot Christmas Tree in the middle of the park.
