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Your Observer | All

Freedom Cafeteria Manager Therese Rickrode stands with Shelby King, owner of King Family Farm. Photo submitted by Therese Rickrode.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 24, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: School Lunch Week

Students at Freedom Elementary School learned about farming and food during National School Lunch Week Oct. 10-14.

  • East County
  • News
Scott Bushey, Nora Stephan, Ellyn Hammond and Opera Board President Joe Stephan
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • October 23, 2011
Sarasota Opera Curtain Raiser Dinner

Sarasota Opera Curtain Raiser Dinner

  • Black Tie
Maureen and Stan Greenway from Bradenton, Brian Hunt from St. Pete and Christina Lima from St. Pete
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 23, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Key Triathlon

Athletes from all over came to Longboat Key Club and Resort to participate in the Second Annual Ziivaa Longboat Key Triathlon and Duathlon on Sunday, Oct. 23. The triathlon consisted of a half-mile swim, a twenty-mile bike and a five-mile run. The Duathlon consists of a two-mile run, twenty-mile bike and a five-mile run.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kindergartner Connor Loukota took a much-needed break from all of the fun and games.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 23, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival

Hundreds of East County residents flocked to Hunsader Farms for the 20th annual Pumpkin Festival Oct. 23. Guests enjoyed picking out pumpkins in the pumpkin patch, hayrides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, children's rides and games, a craft fair, music and a plethora of fair food and drinks, among other activities. The Pumpkin Festival will resume this Saturday and Sunday and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • October 22, 2011
CANDance: Dancing With Our Stars

CANDance: Dancing With Our Stars

  • Black Tie
Johna Desrosiers
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Thriller Audition

On Friday, Oct. 21 a zombie apocalypse took place at Sarasota High when normal students tapped into their living dead counterparts to audition for a part in its 'Thriller' performance. They will perform around Sarasota for the third year in a row at St. Armands 'Fright Night' on Monday, Oct. 31.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Seven-year-old Emmalee Adams with Sarasota Dance Academy
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Kids, Cats and Cupcakes

Cat Depot's fundraiser with cat themed cupcakes, games, dancers, face paint and prizes made already cool cats, even cooler on Saturday, Oct. 22. There were 16 games, a bouncy house and live entertainment provided by area dance academies. The cats were getting lots of love in the adoption center, too.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dee Rodgers and Sally Pruna got zombiefied for the event.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Zombie Pub Crawl

It was the night of the living dead Saturday as corpses aimlessly lurched through Gulf Gate.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Jim and Jean Zakovec pose with Bill Steele, Saturday, Oct. 22 at Bird Key Yacht Club.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Belgian Night at BKYC

The members of Bird Key Yacht Club had a fun time trying out different Belgian beers and enjoying Belgian cuisine, Saturday, Oct. 22 at Bird Key Yacht Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Braden River High football team is still alive in the Class 7A-District 10 race.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 22, 2011
Pirates stay alive in playoff race

The Braden River High football team kept its playoff hopes alive with a 26-11 victory over visiting Sarasota Oct. 21.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch junior Danielle Valley won four events, including the 200-yard individual medley.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Manatee County Swimming and Diving Championships

The Lakewood Ranch High swim team once again showed its dominance, breaking seven meet records and sweeping all of the relay events en route to capturing the boys and girls championships at the Manatee County swimming and diving championships Oct. 19 at the G.T. Bray Aquatic Center. The Lady Mustangs scored 615 points to finish ahead of St. Stephen's (353.5) and Braden River (205) while the Mustangs scored 575 points to finish ahead of Southeast (298) and Braden River (261). Lakewood set new meet records in the boys 200-yard medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. Will Kazokas also set records in the 100 butterfly (53.63) and 500 freestyle (4:47.24). Other Lakewood meet record-setters include: Danielle Valley in the 500 freestyle (5:03.06); Luke Hanner in the 200 individual medley (2:09.39); and Kevin Berkenbusch in the 200 freestyle (1:55.80).

  • East County
  • Sports
Everyone in attendance was able to select a handcrafted ceramic bowl to take home.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY:Empty Bowls

Dozens of East County residents enjoyed hearty bowls of soup during the annual Empty Bowls event Oct. 21 on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Participants were able to sample a variety of soups from local restaurants and take home handcrafted ceramic bowls, which were mad by local potters. Proceeds from the event benefit The Food Bank of Manatee.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lillian Fuller, June Sgarzi and Maureen Grarafalo walked for a friend who died in 2004.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Sporting pink shirts and bras, Sarasota and Manatee county residents walked for a cause Oct. 21 during the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event at the Sarasota Polo Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mikaela Campbell, Skylar Homan and Caroline Cestaro are all in fifth grade.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: McNeal Costume Ball

Donning their Halloween costumes, children at McNeal Elementary School gathered Oct. 21 with their families in the school's cafeteria for a Costume Ball. Attendees enjoyed pizza and ice cream, dancing and a costume contest, among other activities.

  • East County
  • News
Monica Simpson is director of the Planning Zoning & Building Department.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • October 22, 2011
Investigation reveals issues with P&Z director

Interviews with town employees show concerns about Planning Zoning & Building Director Monica Simpson.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
The Lakewood Ranch Library will open an hour later starting Aug. 1 due to a hiring freeze that was implemented in February. Commissioner George Kruse says hours could be further reduced if the property tax referendum passes in November.
  • July 22, 2026
Property tax cuts will cause 'new normal' in Manatee County
2
Front porch rug drying sparks a boarding house fight
  • July 22, 2026
Front porch rug drying sparks a boarding house fight
3
Defender Declan Watters (left) is one of several Sarasota Paradise players learning from lead assistant Trevor Sinclair (right). The Paradise are 5-10-3 in USL League One and 6-13-3 overall, as of July 16.
  • July 22, 2026
Assistant coach brings wealth of experience to Sarasota Paradise
4
"Reflection-Venice, 1894," a photogravure print taken by Alfred Stieglitz, and Clarence Hudson White's photogravure print, "Edge of Woods-Evening, (1900)," were gifts of Warren J. and Margot Coville to The Ringling.
  • July 22, 2026
The Ringling goes back to black-and-white photography
5
A Flock camera takes pictures of vehicles that drive on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.
  • July 22, 2026
Flock cameras photograph every car that enters Longboat Key

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