Neighbors

Harriet Sokmensuer
April 18, 2014

Weekend Best Bet: Siesta Key Village Easter Party

Meet the Easter bunny and hunt fun for eggs on Siesta Beach at the fifth annual Siesta Key Village Easter Party Saturday, April 18.

Siesta Key
Neighbors

Nolan Peterson
April 18, 2014

Sheriff's Office reports falling crime rate

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office released its annual report Wednesday, highlighting agency milestones and achievements.

Siesta Key
Neighbors

Kelsey Grau
April 18, 2014

PHOTO GALLERY: Sand Cay Easter Egg Hunt

Residents and visitors enjoyed the 40th annual Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 18, at Sand Cay Beach Resort. Along with the hunt, attendees participated in a hula-hoop contest and many more Easter activities before eating lunch by the Gulf.

Longboat Key
News

Kelsey Grau
April 18, 2014

WEEKEND BEST BET: Longboat Key Easter Egg Hunts

Get your baskets ready because Longboat Key welcomes the Easter Bunny and his special eggs to the island this weekend. The fun begins at Mar Vista's 26th annual Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 19, and continues at Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant from 1:30 to 3 p.m on Sunday, April 20.

Longboat Key
News

Harriet Sokmensuer
April 18, 2014

Photo of the Day: John Sanders carries cross

Drivers on Tamiami Trail can't miss John Sanders and his 120 pound cross. Sanders has been walking along Tamiami Trail since early this morning and plans to walk as far as Bradenton. The Siesta Key resident has carried the cross every Good Friday for more than a decade. "We have a country in dire need of a prayer," says Sanders.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Harriet Sokmensuer
April 18, 2014

PHOTO GALLERY: Stations of the Cross

Members of the community observed the beginning of Good Friday with the Stations of the Cross Friday, April 18. The walk was held on Main Street and was led by Fr. Fred Robinson and Rev. David Bumsted from Church of the Redeemer. More than eight churches were represented at the walk, which ended at Church of the Redeemer. "It helps people focus on what Jesus did," says Mike Dull.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Amanda Sebastiano
April 17, 2014

PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River Library Easter Egg Hunt

Children ages 12 and under scrambled to find multi-colored plastic eggs filled with candy, April 17, at Braden River Library's Easter Egg Hunt. After attendees found all of the eggs that were tucked inside, behind and underneath books, they decorated Easter egg and bunny cutouts to take home, along with their sweet treats.

East County
Neighbors

Kelsey Grau
April 17, 2014

Mote Marine Laboratory awarded research grant

On Wednesday, Mote Marine Laboratory received a grant that will continue a thriving partnership with Israeli researchers.

Longboat Key
News

Amanda Sebastiano
April 17, 2014

PHOTO GALLERY: 'The Three F's...Fables, Folktales and Fairy Tales'

Students in Marti Bhame's second-grade class, at Braden River Elementary, embodied fictional characters and brought their stories to life during their production of "The Three F's...Fables, Folktales and Fairy Tales," April 17. The students performed three bite-sized renditions of "The Grasshopper and the Ant," "Dinerella" - "Cinderella" with dinosaurs - and "Stone Soup." Each mini play represented a different type of story to coincide with fairy tale and other story-themed curriculum Bhame has been teaching.

East County
Neighbors

Pam Eubanks
April 17, 2014

PHOTO GALLERY: Kiddie Academy Egg Hunt

Children at Kiddie Academy enjoyed visits with the Easter Bunny, as well as an Easter egg hunt April 17, on the school's playground.

East County
News

Observer Staff
April 17, 2014

Reader-submitted photos of the sun halo

Check out these reader-submitted photos of the sun halo, which formed a rainbow-colored ring around the sun Wednesday, April 16. Clouds containing ice crystals cause the sun's light to refract, resulting in this phenomenon.