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Neighbors

The gingerbread house created by Girls Inc. for the CYD competition included a marshmallow snowman, pretzel windows and a decorated rooftop with a chimney.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 1, 2011
Youth prepare for gingerbread house decorating contest

Gumdrops, peppermints and icing - that's what tasty houses are made of! The third annual Community Youth Development Gingerbread Festival promises to sweeten up the area next week, when more than 125 gingerbread houses will be on display from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11, in the Macy's wing of the Westfield Sarasota Square Mall.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Osprey Library opened Nov. 10, in the former visitor’s center at Historic Spanish Point. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 1, 2011
Osprey Library opens at Spanish Point

The Osprey Library at Historic Spanish Point will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Photos by Rachel S. O'Hara
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 1, 2011
Neighbors: Shirley Goodman

It is hard to say whether it is easier to spot Shirley Goodman from across the room due to her glitzy garb or the sound of her tapping feet.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Meet this week's athlete, Kevin Turner. Courtesy Photo.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 1, 2011
Athlete of the Week: Kevin Turner

Ever since Kevin Turner discovered kiteboarding six years ago, he's been hooked on the sport.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 1, 2011
JUST THE STATS

38-34 - The final score of the Out-of-Door Academy and Shorecrest Preparatory women's basketball game, Nov. 21, at Out-of-Door. ODA won the game.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ilona Maegdefrau submitted this sunset photo, taken near the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 1, 2011
Weekly Winner: Quite a Show

Ilona Maegdefrau submitted this sunset photo, taken near the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Susan Nations' kindergarten class poses, Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the courtyard at Southside Elementary.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 1, 2011
Southside kindergartners make colorful mosaics

Southside Elementary kindergartners held a dedication for their stepping-stone project Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the school's courtyard.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton once again dons 19th-century-style clothing to portray President Abraham Lincoln. Photo by Norman Schimmel.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 1, 2011
Homeless residents enjoy a big Thanksgiving event

The Sarasota Ministerial Association held its 11th annual celebration with Sarasota's homeless residents as its guests the day before Thanksgiving, at First Baptist Church in downtown Sarasota. '¨

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
"Freddie" the fox curls up for a nap in front of a Gulf & Bay Club condominium. He and his mate have made themselves regular members of the community, residents say. Courtesy of Dee Reinbold.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 1, 2011
Island Beat: Key people getting into the holiday spirit

With Light Up the Village marking the formal beginning of the holiday season on the Key, plans are being finalized for the annual Christmas Lighting Contest for Condominiums.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 1, 2011
Tatum Ridge Elementary PTO donates 1,400 books to Cyesis

Just in time for the holidays, representatives of the Tatum Ridge Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization visited the Cyesis teen parent program at Riverview High School, bearing lots of books.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Fran Palmeri took this photo of strollers framed by sea oats on Siesta Public Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 1, 2011
Weekly Weather: A Brick Walk

Fran Palmeri took this photo of strollers framed by sea oats on Siesta Public Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
A Crystal Sands condominium, which has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,271 square feet of living area, sold for $775,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 1, 2011
Crystal Sands home tops sales at $775,000

A condominium in Crystal Sands tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Marsha Miller, trustee, of Hartville, Ohio, sold the Unit 606 condominium at 6300 Midnight Pass Road to M&D 606 Crystal Sands LLC, of Belleville, Ill., for $775,000.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Robert and Carol Baldwin with Christine and John Brown
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • November 30, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Tapas Tuesday

Owners of Euphemia Haye Chef Ray and wife D'Arcy Arpke were inspired from a recent trip to Spain to add a new tapas menu. There were around 40 people at Haye Loft Lounge for Tapas Tuesday on Nov. 29. Attendees sampled the new tapas and Spanish wine.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Elton Arellano
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • November 30, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Casa Del Mar Christmas

Staff members, vacationers, renters and owners made sure there was no green left on the Casa Del Mar Christmas tree. It is chock full of silver, red, silver and red, purple and teal tinsel, round shiny ornaments, icicle ornaments and little red bows. The group got together outside of the office on Tuesday, Nov. 29 to decorate the Casa Del Mar family tree.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
One of Scott Pike's paintings. Pike likes painting westerns, despite not knowing much about horses.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • November 30, 2011
FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT: Scott Pike

Read more about Scott Pike in our candid Q&A.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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