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News

After her mother's death, Ellen Gerth, with her husband, Dave, left, continues to run marathons and continues with her career, despite the fact that closure may never come.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 21, 2014
Top Stories - East County: January

Two years after Ina Gross was murdered, her daughter says she still believes the Manatee County Sheriff's Office will arrest the killer.

  • East County
  • News
Zoe Baglini, Bekka Larson, Harrison Chona and Adriana Fernandez
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 20, 2014
Debutante Ball

Debutante Ball

  • Black Tie
Ken Abt and Alfred Goldstein
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 19, 2014
La Fille mal Gardee Pre-Performance Holiday Dinner

La Fille mal Gardee Pre-Performance Holiday Dinner

  • Black Tie
Indigo Alexis, Flori Roberts and Charles Martin
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 19, 2014
Achievers Scholarship Partners Holiday Luncheon

Achievers Scholarship Partners Holiday Luncheon

  • Black Tie
Adam Caldwell tells the story of Judah Maccabee at Hanukkah Happening.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 18, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Temple Emanu-El Hanukkah Happening

Members of the community were invited to join in on the holiday celebration with the congregation at Temple Emanu-El for Hanukkah Happening Friday evening.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The trail currently extends from the Venice Train Depot to Palmer Ranch Parkway. File photo.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 18, 2014
Legacy Trail extension costs could exceed $15 million

The $72,541 goal to supplement the cost of the feasibility study for the Legacy Trail extension is complete.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
This week's FYI Friday features news about a lost ferret and a Christmas miracle, an update on downtown Sarasota's nightlife and more!
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 18, 2014
FYI Friday - Your weekly news roundup

Catch up on the week's most important and most interesting news stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County with FYI Friday.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The playground, installed in December, was created for children ages two to 12.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 18, 2014
Joan M. Durante Park installs new playground

The playground is made from post-consumer recycled materials.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Courtesy photo, Nolan TSA students Naomi Burg and Amanda Boccarossa paint a little library to be installed at Greenbrook Park in Lakewood Ranch in January.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 18, 2014
Sarasota County installs Little Free Libraries in parks

The stand-alone lending libraries are a part of a national program that encourages communities to share literature.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The construction sector shed 400 jobs in November in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area, while the retail sector added roughly 1,600 positions for an increase of 4% from October.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 18, 2014
Local unemployment rate continues tumble

The North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area added more than 4,000 jobs in November, while Sarasota County's unemployment rate fell to 5.3% from 5.6% the previous month.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Braden River and Lakewood Ranch high schools earned “A” grades for the third consecutive year.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 18, 2014
East County high schools excel in graduation rates, school grades

Two East County high schools received "A" grades and had high graduation rates in the 2013-2014 school year, a Florida Department of Education report shows.

  • East County
  • News
A garden of lights blooms down one of the walk ways at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Lights in Bloom display.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 18, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Lights in Bloom at Selby

Guests were invited to enjoy an early preview of Lights in Bloom Thursday, Dec. 18 at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ajanique Jones and Chloe Corleto dance to the music.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 18, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River Middle Snowcoming Dance

Sixth- through eighth-grade students put on their formal gowns and suits for the Snowcoming Dance, Dec. 18, in Braden River Middle School's cafeteria.

  • East County
  • News
Jan and Gene Albrycht show off their gingerbread house — a staple in the parade.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 18, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Horseshoe Cove Christmas Golf Cart Parade

Residents of Horseshoe Cove lined their golf carts with ornaments, lights and other holiday decorations for the 16th annual Christmas Golf Cart Parade Dec. 18. Participants drove their themed vehicles around the community for an excited audience who photographed the unique carts from the sidelines.

  • East County
  • News
Girl of the Year recipient Isabelle Crotsley, Girls Inc. Distinguished Board Chair Donna Ogilvie and National Girls Inc. Champions for Girls award recipient, Sherry Watts.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 17, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Girls Inc. Celebrates Girl of the Year

Today called for a celebration at Girls Incorporated Girl for the Girl of the Year award and the first ever National Girls Inc. 'Champions for Girls' award.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Longboat Key Police Department.
  • December 26, 2025
Show off your cars, enjoy coffee at LKPD community event
2
The pool in Taylor Morrison's Esplanade at Azario development in Sarasota's Lakewood Ranch community.
  • December 26, 2025
Builder to bring 1,200-home community to Lakewood Ranch
3
Riverview High baseball player-mentors pose for a photo on Dec. 9 with their kindergarten mentees at Southside Elementary School. Danielle Sobolewski, a kindergarten teacher at Southside, asked for some silly faces.
  • December 25, 2025
Riverview High baseball mentors next generation
4
Selby Gardens Master Plan Phase 2 Learning Pavilion Interior rendering.
  • December 25, 2025
Selby Gardens' renovations add to appeal while keeping mission in mind
5
The Unit 111 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail was built in 2000 and has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,186 square feet of living area.
  • December 25, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 8-12 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

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