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Your Observer | All

    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2011
Lakewood grapplers finish ninth

With only nine wrestlers competing, the Lakewood Ranch High wrestling team finished ninth in the 28-team tournament at Pinellas Park High Dec. 9-10.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtesy photo
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2011
EMB cheerleaders finish fifth

The East Manatee Bulldogs Junior Midget cheerleading squad finished in the novice small division of the 2011 Pop Warner National Cheer & Dance Championships Dec. 7 at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 12, 2011
Ortiz competes in national championships

Lakewood Ranch High junior Olivia Ortiz was one of 40 girls selected to compete in the national finals of the 2011 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Dec. 10 in San Diego.

  • East County
  • Sports
Larry Burns with Coleen and Stephen Weiss
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Porsche's in the Park

Owners of Porsches and people hoping Santa is really nice to them this year took over St. Armands Circle on Saturday, Dec. 10. Suncoast Motorsports hosted its 7th annual Porsche's in the Park featuring cars from all of Florida. Royal Pet Rescue also made an appearance with puppies for adoption.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Carol Vengroff’s family
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 12, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Carol Vengroff Opening

Carol Vengroff made her living as an artist. The exhibit opening at Bird Key Yacht Club on Friday, Dec. 9 was a display of work she has made throughout the past 50 years. It was very eclectic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Event Chair Carol Chiarella and Helga Lopatin
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 11, 2011
Sparccle for the Holidays

Sparccle for the Holidays

  • Black Tie
Alessio and Marcella Arogi
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 11, 2011
Christmas in Candy Land

Christmas in Candy Land

  • Black Tie
Ellie Feldman, Irv Parmet and Florey Miller and Dr. Christopher Cortman
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Temple Sinai Jewish Food Festival

Temple Sinai held its annual Jewish Food Festival Sunday, Dec. 11, but the event featured much more than just food. Temple members and guests perused crafts and books for sale, kids jumped around inside a bounce house and everyone was treated to music and entertainment. The festival also featured a health fair.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
What looks like specks of dirt floating in a bucket of water are actually baby scallops. However, some of the debris on the bottom is actually dirt.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Baby Scallops

When the microscopic baby scallops begin to develop the ability to attach, it is time to release them. At mid-day on Friday, Dec. 9, what looks like six buckets with specks of dirt floating throughout were the three-to-four million scallops that were released around the bay by Sarasota Bay Watch. 'God speed, little scallops,' Andy Mele says as he pours them into the bay near Sister Keys. The scallops have around a one-percent chance of survival, but the group doesn't know for sure because the project hasn't been done before. They plan to return and check on the GPS coordinates where they were released. The funding for the project was from Sarasota Yacht Club, and Cannons Marina provided the boats.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tom Aposporos with the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce, new chamber member Stan Umenhofer and Susan Goldfarb with the Longboat Key Education Center
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Open House at Centre Shops

Live music trailed from the doors of Kitchens by Kerrie, where realtors from a few doors down, guests and other Centre Shops owners and workers drank wine and snacked on appetizers from the Lazy Lobster on Thursday, Dec. 8. A handful of stores down was a shop recently settled into it's new location, Steff's Stuff, who was serving Sangria and appetizers. Exit Art Gallery had trays of food catered from Harry's Continental Kitchens. Attendees between stores socialized while snacking on popcorn provided by The Longboat Key Education Center. There was no shortage of food - or fun - at the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce Event: Open House at the Centre Shops.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Originator of the luncheon Jane Newman with Pat Merriman and Cheryl Clark
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: L'Ambiance Holiday Luncheon

What started as a combined effort of L'Ambiance resident's donations, turned into a charity luncheon four years ago. They have selected different charities over the years, and this is the first year Children's Guardian Fund was selected. L'Ambiance collected sweatshirts and hoodies to be donated to the children with the fund who are removed from their homes and put in a safe place.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Pam Coleman and Liz Riedinger
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Docent Luncheon

It's not the case that the Longboat Key Historical Society Docent say, "thanks." The board of directors treated the docents to a lunch at Lazy Lobster on Thursday, Dec. 8 to show appreciation for all they do.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mark Anderson, Michelle Woodson, Hal and Lynn Christensen
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • December 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Wine Tasting

The weather outside was frightful but the people at Harry's Continental Kitchen's wine tasting were still delightful on Wednesday, Dec. 7; even though it is the first time the event has ever witnessed rain. The cold and rainy day knocked over the live entertainment Howie Banfield's tent and forced the crowd under two tents. But, attendees were in good spirits. Five dollars of every attendee's entrance fee profited the Longboat Key Historical Society. And since they had no place to go, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The runners for the 5K start off running down the beach, Saturday, Dec. 10, for the 35th annual Sandy Claws run on Siesta Key Beach.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: 35th annual Sandy Claws run

Hundreds of people participated in the 35th annual Sandy Claws 1-mile fun run and 5K, Saturday, Dec. 10, on Siesta Key Beach. It is the oldest, local, continuous run. Many people running dressed up for the occasion in hats, shirts and funky socks for the holiday themed run.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Indiana Martinez listens and looks at a piece done by Tim Jaeger.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: THIRTEEN opens at G. Wiz

The artists of S/Art/Q had their month long exhibit opening, Friday, Dec. 9 at G Wiz. The exhibit, THIRTEEN, features all the artists affiliated with S/Art/Q and will be up at G Wiz through Jan. 7, 2012.

  • Arts + Culture
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