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Your Observer | All

Craig Merrill is the pyrotechnician behind the explosions that will fill the Fourth of July night sky over Siesta Beach. He poses with Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce member Aimee Holmes. Courtesy of Craig Merrill.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 31, 2012
Craig Merrill: Demolition Dude

Craig Merrill works for Westlake Produce Co., in Winter Haven, during most of the year. But when the Fourth of July rolls around, he trades apples for ammunition as the pyrotechnician behind the Siesta Key Beach fireworks show.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Jon Thaxton will vacate his position in the Sarasota County Commission at the end of this term. He'll be working 60 hours a week and pondering his future until then. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 31, 2012
Jon Thaxton at bay for now

After 12 years representing District 5 on the Sarasota County Commission, Jon Thaxton carefully contemplates his next step.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
News Briefs

Prominent Siesta lot again for sale; County seeks vendors for crosswalk lighting; Crunch time for school storm prep

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Architect Gary Hoyt and developer Tom Mannausa plan to build an 18-story condominium tower on Main Street between Gulfstream and Palm avenues.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 31, 2012
Mannausa forms 'The Jewel' of Sarasota

Tom Mannausa plans to build an 18-story condominium tower that boasts views unlike any other building in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • May 31, 2012
Homes, town center coming to Palmer Ranch

Approximately 350 homes are coming to Palmer Ranch along with a new town center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Sarasota County Animal Services completed big task

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Denise Kowal is a New Urbanist, downtown stakeholder of one of Sarasota’s most visible historic buildings and graduate of the SmartCode.
  • By Denise Kowal
  • May 31, 2012
My View: We shall not abandon the plan

In adopting the Downtown Sarasota Master Plan in January 2001, the city of Sarasota embraced the responsibility for civic parking, after hosting over the course of several years an inclusive, informative and transparent process that gained consensus among our entire community for the plan.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
News Briefs

Three parking meters receive new home; County offers energy upgrade workshops

  • Sarasota
  • News
The first set of conceptual designs for the new Gulf Gate Public Library includes a drive-thru book-return lane. Courtesy of Harvard Jolly Inc.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • May 31, 2012
FULL STORY: Architects reveal design for new library

Harvard Jolly Inc. unveiled conceptual renderings of the new Gulf Gate Library Thursday, May 24.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
  • By John Gudritz
  • May 31, 2012
My View: Civility and compromise bring fairer solutions

I thought the editorial opinion contained in the "Our View" column last week provided a commonsense approach to solving not only the sound issues currently being debated in the Siesta Key Village but most problems that come along in life.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 31, 2012
Athlete of the Week: Anna Phillips

Anna Phillips, 15, has been involved in Sarasota Aquatic Synchronized Swimming at the YMCA (SASSY) since she was in the sixth grade.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2012
Observer Team Spotlight

Enjoy this week's Observer Team Spotlight, featuring Donald Seelley.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Freedom Principal Jim Mennes and fourth-grade teacher Amanda Hirst got drenched with slime.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • May 31, 2012
VIDEO & PHOTOGALLERY: Freedom students slime faculty

In a show of support for U.S. troops serving overseas, administrators, teachers and soldiers were slimed May 30, at Freedom Elementary School.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • May 31, 2012
Sarasota County sees increase in parking tickets issued

According to Sarasota County records of weekly parking violations, by location, from Feb. 1 to May 1, there has been a rise in ticket distribution.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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