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Sarasota

    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 22, 2011
Five things you didn't know about Victor Fernandez

Victor Fernandez, orchestra director at Booker Middle School, is a finalist for Teacher of the Year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Brothers Martin Gramatica and Santiago Gramatica stand in front of the panels that will be used to build three homes for underprivileged families in Haiti. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • December 22, 2011
TOP STORY, JAN.: Brotherly Love

The well-known former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica and his placekicking brothers chose Sarasota to start their green building business, which has just secured a deal to provide housing to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 22, 2011
County government offices to be closed for holidays

Most Sarasota County government offices and services, including libraries, the History Center and recreation centers, will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Dec. 26, for the Christmas holiday.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Margaret Brading and Sue Ford
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
British Club celebrates X-Mas

The Sarasota British Club held its annual Christmas dinner party Saturday, Dec. 17, at Heritage Oaks.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bea Dunayer with Jacob Baram. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
Temple gets into the Hanukkah spirit

Temple Emanu-El Religious School caught the Hanukkah spirit Sunday, Dec. 11 at a school-wide campus celebration.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
Church of the Redeemer welcomes home college kids

Church of the Redeemer's College Ministry held a special 'welcome home' coffee time after services, Sunday, Dec. 18, inside Gillespie Hall. The Rev. Fred Robinson had each student come up as he read some information about each student's major and school.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Y.E.S. member Brit Fjoerdsma. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
YMCA members say 'yes' to fun

The senior members of the Evalyn Sadlier Jones branch of the Sarasota YMCA have a new program tailored to suit them: Youthful Energetic Seniors - or Y.E.S., for short.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 22, 2011
Main Street project price tag: $14 million

Main Street merchants have both sticker shock and construction shock over preliminary cost options for a Main Street project that could cost as much as $14 million and take years to complete.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The gas valve removed from one homeowner’s front yard light shows corrosion that he said could have led to a natural-gas leak.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 22, 2011
Hamptons homeowner wins lawsuit

After a two-year lawsuit, one resident of The Hamptons was granted the right to switch to electric-powered street lamps.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 22, 2011
Planning Commission seats to be filled

One of the Sarasota County Commission's most important advisory boards has three open seats that the commission will fill in January.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune is located at 1741 Main St. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • December 22, 2011
FULL STORY: Herald-Tribune, sister papers, to be sold

The newspaper, which won a Pulitzer Prize in April and has been owned by the New York Times for nearly 30 years, will get new owners. Changes could be forthcoming.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 22, 2011
Planning Board approves P.F. Chang's

A P.F. Chang's China Bistro is coming to downtown Sarasota after the Planning Board approved its application Dec. 14.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • December 22, 2011
Advisory board recommends downtown grants stay in place

Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board believes downtown grants need more time to catch on before they are rescinded.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 22, 2011
News Briefs

City administration offices closed for holidays

  • Sarasota
  • News
New County Administrator Randall Reid will begin work Jan. 23. Photo by Norman Schimmel.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • December 22, 2011
Sarasota finalizes contract for new administrator

County Commission Chairwoman Nora Patterson Dec. 15 signed the formal contract with Randall H. Reid of Gainesville, making him the new county administrator.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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