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Your Observer | All

Tyler Beck, 7
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 22, 2011
VIDEO: ODA Students tell all about Santa

ODA students tell what they've learned about St. Nick.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
During their December meeting, members of the Siesta Key Association recognized county Parks and Recreation Department staff for all their work to make Siesta’s beach the top one in the country. Photo by Norman Schimmel.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 22, 2011
Island Beat: SKA applauds county's Parks and Recreation staff

As befitting their last meeting before the holidays, the members of the Siesta Key Association this month took the opportunity to thank county employees who play major roles in the upkeep of the Key's beaches and the protection of its wildlife.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Siara, Grade 4, Pine View School
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
Pelikids: Holiday Special

Pelikids is a monthly feature highlighting the work of Sarasota County students. This month's offerings are from students at Lakeview Elementary and Pine View schools.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Meet this week's Athlete of the Week, Jack Cannon
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 22, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Jack Cannon

As a senior at The Out-of-Door Academy, Jack Cannon, 17, is one of the basketball team's leading players.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
Cops Corner: Siesta Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
  • By Dean Kalahar
  • December 22, 2011
My View: It's not education; it's indoctrination

While parents think our schools focus on reading, writing and arithmetic, the reality is they focus on identity politics and social consciousness.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
One condominium, which has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,009 square feet of living area, sold for $700,000. Another, which has one bedroom, two baths and 1,232 square feet of living area sold for $430,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 22, 2011
Two Crescent Arms condos top week's residential sales

Two condominiums in Crescent Arms top all transactions in this week's real estate. Elizabeth Van, of Huron, Ohio, sold her Unit 301-S condominium at 6312 Midnight Pass Road to Richard Bronson and Bonnie Bronson, trustees, of Lees Summit, Mo., for $700,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Access to Shell Beach was restricted while the city of Sarasota laid a new water pipeline to Lido Beach.
  • By Jack Gurney
  • December 22, 2011
TOP STORY, JAN.: New water pipe being installed under Big Pass

Siesta Key residents inconvenienced by Shell Road work crews will have to be patient through the end of February, when a Sarasota city project to install a new water pipeline under Sarasota Bay to the south end of Lido Beach will be finished.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
About 30 students from the Ringling College of Art and Design on Jan. 14 set up shop in Lakewood Ranch to film a scene for a senior thesis project. Published Jan. 27, 2011.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
YEAR IN PICTURES: January, 2011

Take a look back at photos from this year in The East County Observer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Representatives from State College of Florida, Sarasota-Manatee, Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice revealed plans Jan. 18.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
TOP STORY, JAN.: The Big DEAL

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch and State College of Florida in January announced a partnership to create a 72,000-square-foot hub to attract businesses to the Manatee-Sarasota area.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Nadon
  • December 21, 2011
Season Standout films

Holiday mayhem getting you down? Cheer up and chill out at your local movie theater. 'Tis the season for the best that Hollywood has to offer.

  • Arts + Culture
Sanborn Studios, LLC, who leased a space in the Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park in September 2010, has announced it will terminate its lease on its primary studio facility. File photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2011
Production company to close Lakewood Ranch operation

Sanborn Studios has announced it will terminate its lease for its Lakewood Ranch studio.

  • East County
  • News
Lisa Dubow, Alice Dubow, 6, Teresa Outwaite and Max Outwaite, 6, wore some festive Chanukah headbands and necklaces at A Taste of Chanukah, Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Five Points Park.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: A Taste of Chanukah

The Chabad of Sarasota and Manatee sponsored a Jewish food festival called 'A Taste of Chanukah', Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Selby Five Points Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Two 8-year-olds wait in the wings before a spacing rehearsal for the finale.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 21, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Sweet Life

The Sarasota Ballet School performed three performances of "A Nutcracker Sweet" December 16 and 17 at the Lakewood Ranch Performing Arts Center and at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center. The cast of 120 performers danced a variety of parts from dolls to partygoers to butterflies and angels.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2011
Nolan Middle FFA marches in Myakka

More than 40 Future Farmers of America students from Nolan Middle School earned community service hours Dec. 3 at the Myakka City Christmas Parade.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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From left to right: Avery Mathis, Charlie Mathis, Michael Mathis and Jessica Mathis grin at a badge pinning ceremony where Michael Mathis was promoted to sergeant of the Longboat Key Police Department.
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Manatee EMS deputy chief charged with lewd conduct, released from employment
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