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Sarasota | Neighbors

    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • March 4, 2014
Dowdy posts first shutout

Aidan Dowdy notched his first career shutout to lead The Out-of-Door Academy boys lacrosse team to a 14-0 victory over Admiral Farragut March 3.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • March 4, 2014
PREP SPORTS: Monday's Tennis Recap

The ODA boys and girls and Booker boys tennis teams all posted victories March 3.

  • East County
  • Sports
Riverview High sophomore Jenna Tarifa finished third in the 100-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 18.10 seconds.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • March 3, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Riverview Ram Invitational

The Booker, Braden River, Cardinal Mooney, Riverview and Sarasota boys and girls track teams hit the track for the Sarasota Riverview Ram Invitational Feb. 28. The Rams won both the boys and girls team titles.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • March 3, 2014
Big Pass dredge opponents say 'let it be'

A performance of the classic Beatles song, "Let it be," on an organ towed out to the Big Pass shoal highlights mounting opposition to a proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging project.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Tracy, Skye, Anna and Chris Gongas
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 2, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Chocolate Sundae

Chocolate lovers spent the day sampling chocolate and sweets at the 2014 Chocolate Sundae Sunday, March 2. The event, also known as the Chocolate Festival, supports the United Cerebral Palsy Sarasota Manatee. More than 40 vendors handed out treated guests to chocolate, candy and baked goods.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Carolyn and Vern Billinger
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 1, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Bluegrass Picnic

Bluegrass lovers flocked to Siesta Key for the Turtle Beach Bluegrass Picnic Saturday, March 1. The picnic, organized by Benny Kimsey, benefits the American Red Cross. Attendees enjoyed a free lunch of hot dogs and burgers while four bluegrass bands performed until sunset.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Nicole Gilman, Alejandro Cardona, Liam Donovan, Stephen Gilman, and Keira and Ava Donovan
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • March 1, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: 2014 Springfest

Families enjoyed the warm weather at the 8th annual Sarasota Springfest Saturday, March 1. The festival was held in Palmer Ranch and included a dance floor, egg hunt and craft areas. The fun began early Saturday morning with a 5K walk and run, which raised money for the Sheriff's Activities League.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 28, 2014
Booker High School holds grand opening

The centerpiece of the campus is a two-story building built to house student clubs and communities. Construction began in 2010 was completed in December 2013.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tim Borden, Dana Haise, Brianne Allen and Scott Gross work on their can creation of the Empire State Building.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 28, 2014
Photo of the Day: Canstruction comes to Southgate Mall

Canstruction is a national program aimed to help feed the hungry through art. The Westfield Southgate Mall will become an art workshop and exhibit Friday, Feb. 28 to Monday, March. 10.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 28, 2014
Sheriff's Office announces promotions

In a ceremony Thursday, Sheriff Tom Knight announced 10 promotions within the agency, which included two new majors and two new captains.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 28, 2014
WEEKEND BEST BET: Springfest 2014

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. festival-goers can celebrate spring real with live music by local bands, great food and family activities, such as an egg hunt.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
President Tony Romanus with County Historian Jeff LaHurd
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 27, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Isles Association Dinner

The Siesta Isles Association held its annual dinner Friday, Feb. 26 at St. Boniface Episcopal Church. Members enjoyed lasagna and apple pie before hearing guest speaker and County Historian, Jeff LaHurd, share the history of Sarasota. Before Sarasota was crowned as the Circus City from 1927 to 1960, the small city was advertised as the Air Condition City for its cool breeze from the Gulf. LaHurd also debunked Sarasota myths and rumors such as the story of John Ringling using elephants to build the Ringling Bridge in the mid-1920s.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Designing Women Ambassadors Julie Planck and Lois Lucek
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 27, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Designing Women Boutique Salon Series

Designing Women Boutique held its monthly Salon Series luncheon Thursday, Feb. 27. Guests enjoyed a boxed lunch and a live performance by professional harpist Olivia Swann who sang Irish folk songs and recited poems. More than 50 men and women attended the event, which included a fashion show themed as "Bursting in to Spring." Proceeds from the luncheon benefit Designing Women Boutique's re-donation recipients in the arts and human services.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 27, 2014
Siesta Key Chamber taps new executive director

Debra Lynn-Schmitz will step into the post formerly held by current Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kevin Cooper.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 27, 2014
Dinner date

The Siesta Key Chapel's Men's Fellowship held its annual Valentine Dinner Feb. 13. T

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 27, 2014
Bowl for the gold

The Sarasota Lawn Bowling Club is hosting Canada and Scotland's national lawn bowling teams Sunday, Feb. 23, through Friday, Feb. 28.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • February 27, 2014
Hair raising

NUOVO Salon at The Landings held its annual Cut-A-Thon Sunday.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 27, 2014
Booker extends winning streak

The Booker High boys tennis team improved to 5-0 with a 5-2 victory over North Port Feb. 26.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 27, 2014
i9 Sports registration underway

Registration for the i9 Sports- Manatee/Sarasota spring season is now underway and will continue through March 1.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 27, 2014
Field of dreams

Michael Lynch, 64, is semi-retired - and spending his spare time as a member of the Sarasota Millionaires minor league football team.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 27, 2014
Noise changes stir up feedback

Commissioners will soon hear a proposal to revise the city's noise ordinance. The changes are already drawing residents' ire.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 27, 2014
Social media boosts Sarasota tourism

Visit Sarasota County seeks to leverage the power of social media and online reputation management to promote the area's tourism industry at lower costs than traditional advertising campaigns.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 27, 2014
News Briefs

Sarasota organizations push for bayfront planning; New lights make debut at Ed Smith Stadium; County names assistant county administrator

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 27, 2014
East Main Street businesses form own district

A group of businesses near the eastern end of Main Street have joined to form the East End District, with an eye toward joint promotion and improvements for the area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 27, 2014
Our view

School tax: Devoid of choice

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 27, 2014
State Runner-Up

The Sarasota Christian girls basketball team fell to Grandview Prep 45-32 in the FHSAA Class 2A state championship Feb. 20 at the Lakeland Center.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 27, 2014
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 27, 2014
New running store to open at Five Points downtown

Fit2Run, a chain of running stores throughout Florida, plans to open a location this June at 1400 Main St.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • February 27, 2014
Neighborhood pushes for parkland purchase

Residents of Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores want the county to buy a property to turn it into a new neighborhood park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 27, 2014
Occasions

To see your own wedding, engagement, anniversary and birth announcements in the Sarasota Observer, send your information to Jessica Luck at [email protected].

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 27, 2014
Culture shock

The Sarasota Christian boys basketball team advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in school history Feb. 25 in Lakeland.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 27, 2014
Sidelines

ODA baseball notches pair of wins; Riverview opens district season with win; Lady Thunder swing past Lady Indians; Cougars top Manta Rays

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • February 27, 2014
Special Turnaround

The Sarasota High girls basketball team advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2002.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Nolan Peterson
  • February 27, 2014
Siesta residents fear erosion of coastal setback rules

Siesta residents claim an exception to Sarasota County's Gulf Beach Setback Line rules could set an unwanted precedent.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 27, 2014
Letters to the Editor

The Observer's readers weigh in on local issues.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 27, 2014
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
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