Neighbors | Sarasota | Your Observer

Sarasota | Neighbors

Nick Friedman
May 16, 2013

Sisters serve up new skills for Special Olympics games

Francesca and Elizabeth Martel will compete this weekend in the state summer games, in Orlando.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Jen Blanco
May 16, 2013

SIDELINES

Coastline volleyball earns national bid; Mooney LAX players named All-Americans

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 16, 2013

JUST THE STATS

16.06 - The time in seconds Riverview High graduate Elise Hinson ran the 100-hurdles at the Northern Athletics Conference outdoor championships, to set a new Aurora University school record.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Jen Blanco
May 16, 2013

Athlete of the Week: Shane Shifflett

Sarasota Christian School eighth-grader Shane Shifflett went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple, three RBIs, a run scored and an intentional walk to lead the Blazers to a 6-5 victory over Canterbury School of Florida in the Class 2A-Region 2 semifinals May 7.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 16, 2013

YOUR NEIGHBOR: Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano

Oliva Marie Braida-Chiusano has an extensive resume filled with art exhibitions; botanical art commission work; botanical art teaching positions; and both art and business awards and honors.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 16, 2013

Weather Photo: SKY'S THE LIMIT

Samantha Bisceglia submitted this photo of a sunrise over Siesta Key.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 16, 2013

SCHOOL BOARD BULLETIN

Upper-elementary students at The NewGate School celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a salsa-garden harvest Monday, May 6. Students harvested the vegetables they had been growing since February in their garden.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 16, 2013

Student Spotlight: ZACHARY RAFAEL

Zachary Rafael may only be in the seventh grade, but he's already made strides in educating students and the public about the harmful effects of tobacco.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Jen Blanco
May 15, 2013

Slugger bags ODA scholarship

Cameron Smalley was named the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund's third scholarship recipient May 6.

East County
Sports

Yaryna Klimchak
May 14, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY: city of Sarasota At-Large Commission Runoff Election

Candidates Suzanne Atwell, Susan Chapman and Richard Dorfman spent the day greeting voters Tuesday, May 14, at polling locations in a close election after a tight race in March's city election.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 12, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY : Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Mother's Day Brunch

Families came together on Sunday, May 12 at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to appreciate moms for Mother's Day and enjoy the beautiful gardens on a sunny day. More than 615 people attended the three different brunch seating's where Michael's On East catered.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 12, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY : First Sarasota the Downtown Baptist Church Pancake Breakfast

Parishioners gathered together for a pancake breakfast Sunday, May 12 at First Sarasota the Downtown Baptist Church for Mother's Day. Children ate breakfast with their mothers and the youth group collected money for their mission trip in June to Jamaica.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 12, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY : Suncoast Polytechnical High School Prom

Suncoast Polytechnical High School students attended prom Saturday, May 12 at Laurel Oaks Country Club to participate in the school tradition. Approximately 145 students attended the Never Say Goodbye Peter Pan themed prom and danced the night away.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 12, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY : Sarasota Scullers Row with your Child

The Sarasota Scullers taught their parents how to row Saturday, May 11 at Blackburn Point on Casey Key so that parents would know the kind of physical training they go through almost everyday. More than 100 people showed up to the second Row With Your Child fundraiser where they went through a brief 30-minute lesson before getting out on the water with kids.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
May 12, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota High School's Prom

There were 350 students that attended Sarasota High School's prom Saturday, May 11, at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
May 12, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Military Academy's Prom

Sarasota Military Academy held their 2013 Prom Saturday, May 11, at Michael's On East.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 10, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY : 23rd Annual Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce hosted the 23rd Annual Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards Friday, May 10 at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota to recognize hard working business people and businesses. Sponsors awarded businesses with plaques for young professional, woman entrepreneur, cultural organization, non - profit organization, international business, young business and small business.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
May 9, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY: Southeastern Guide Dogs graduation ceremony

The 218th Southeastern Guide Dogs class graduated Thursday, May 9, at The Van Wezel.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 9, 2013

Visit Sarasota County announces Annual National Tourism Week Awards

Visit Sarasota County announced the recipients of the 2013 National Tourism Week Awards Thursday, May 9, at a ceremony breakfast held at Westfield Southgate Mall.

Sarasota
News

Jen Blanco
May 9, 2013

Coastline volleyball team earns national bid

The Coastline 14 Rox Black volleyball team recently earned a national bid to the USA Volleyball Girls Junior Nationals.

East County
Sports

Nick Friedman
May 9, 2013

PHOTO GALLERY: ODA Mother's Day Tea

Out of Door Academy students joined their mothers Thursday, May 9, for a special Mother's Day teatime. Students presented their moms with gifts and cards before enjoying tea and snacks.

Sarasota
News

Yaryna Klimchak
May 9, 2013

Fishermen angle for the big catch

The water must be still; the motor of the boat at just a hum. The angler must cast directly into the school of fish to catch one of the silver kings of the sea.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 9, 2013

MOMENTS IN TIME

The Observer takes a look back at this week in Sarasota's history.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Jen Blanco
May 9, 2013

SIDELINES

Crew defends title; Thunder, Cougars fall

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
May 9, 2013

JUST THE STATS

8 - The combined number of Cardinal Mooney and The Out-of-Door Academy seniors who played their final prep baseball game May 2.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Jen Blanco
May 9, 2013

Forge ahead: Jammeria Higdon

Sarasota High senior Jammeria Higdon closed out her prep track-and-field career at the Class 3A State Finals May 3, at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Jen Blanco
May 9, 2013

Athlete of the Week: Kehtura Merrick

Riverview High senior Kehtura Merrick threw the discus 120 feet, 7 inches to capture the state title at the Class 4A State Finals May 4, at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 9, 2013

SCHOOL BOARD

Students at The Gan School at Temple Sinai celebrated Israel's 65th birthday, which was April 16, by taking an imaginary plane ride to Israel.

Siesta Key
Neighbors

Yaryna Klimchak
May 9, 2013

Teacher Spotlight: Sharon Mitchell

Sarasota Military Academy English teacher Sharon Mitchell goes beyond the basic requirements of teaching her 75 students grammar and reading comprehension - she teaches them to think differently, especially when it comes to poetry.