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Your Observer | All

    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 18, 2011
City told to send positive signals

The city's economic-development coordinator said decisions that appear to be unfriendly to business are also watched by potential new businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
News Briefs

Path cleared for free electric-car service; Commission endorses North Trail plan

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sophie Williamson in the chicken coop in her family’s backyard. Photos by Rebecca Wild Baxter.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • August 18, 2011
12-year-old raises chickens in backyard

A 12-year-old girl's interest in chickens has taken her from addressing the City Commission to raising hens in her backyard.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Kathy Bolam, a Venice retiree, wants Sarasota County voters to amend the county charter to restrict county commissioners from spending taxpayers’ money on nonprofit services. Photo by Rod Millington.
  • By Jay Brady
  • August 18, 2011
Government contracts with nonprofits: good doing or wasteful spending?

Local governments contracting with nonprofits for services spend millions of taxpayers' dollars each year. The strategy has its supporters and detractors.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Farmers Market manager Phil Pagano credits the market’s success this summer to a new marketing effort and a commitment from vendors who stayed around during this traditionally slower time of year. Photo by Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • August 18, 2011
Farmers market boasts off-season success

Visitors and locals are supporting the Sarasota Farmers Market in record numbers this summer, thanks to a new marketing campaign put into effect by the market's board of directors.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Our View: Privatize Bobby Jones

Golfing may be the least essential of all government services. Of all the entertainment venues that local governments own or subsidize - from the Van Wezel to tennis courts to baseball - surely golf must rank near the bottom in order of importance.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Letters to the Editor: 08.18.11

Change still needed for less debt and taxes; Kudos for showing 'Ruskin Sky' painting

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
The Harbor Acres home at 1545 Hillview Drive has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, a pool and 4,625 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,262,500. Photo by Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • August 18, 2011
Harbor Acres home sells for $2,262,500

Margaret Varner, Sarasota, sold her home at 1545 Hillview Drive, in Harbor Acres, to Donald and Sharon Lerner, Sarasota, for $2,262,500. Built in 1997, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,625 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $2.1 million in 2002.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • August 18, 2011
Business Observer

Eager Beaver Car Wash wins community award; Carson elected to U.S. Green Building Council; New College recognized in Princeton's top colleges list; Community Foundation awards financial aid; YMCA selected to receive grant for Hispanic program

  • Sarasota
  • News
Diane Desmond submitted this sunset photo, taken beneath the John Ringling Causeway.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Weekly Winner: Watchful Perch

Diane Desmond submitted this sunset photo, taken beneath the John Ringling Causeway.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Letters to the Editor: 08.18.11

Who's to blame? Freshman Republicans; County should focus on beach parking

  • Sarasota
  • News
Merrill
  • By David Merrill
  • August 18, 2011
My View: Building a university economy

The future is retirement. At least that's what a report from the University of Florida says about Sarasota's economy.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 18, 2011
Our View: Downtown's answer on Key

Sometimes the best solutions can be found in our own backyard.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • August 18, 2011
Groups suggest ethics code for county workers

Saying policy changes in the wake of a county purchasing scandal won't do any good unless county employees follow the rules, several citizens' organizations are asking county government to adopt a code of ethics.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
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