• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Key Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Key Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Sarasota | Neighbors

Mary Abranski serves the ball.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 17, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Rider Sandals Big Shot Volleyball Series

Teams from throughout the country competed in The Rider Sandals Big Shot Volleyball Series, which returned to Siesta Key Saturday.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dancers exit a limo and make their way up the red carpeted stairs to meet with the rest of their company, Monday, Oct. 17 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 17, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Welcome home, Sarasota Ballet!

Friends of the Sarasota Ballet hosted a welcome home event Monday, Oct. 17 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts to toast the dancers of the Sarasota Ballet who danced with the Suzanne Farrell ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Hundreds of people came out to look at the art and crafts at the Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival this past weekend.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 16, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival

Hundreds of people came out over the weekend for the 17th Annual Downtown Sarasota Art & Craft Festival on Main Street.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Students dance together on the dance floor Saturday, Oct. 15 during the Sarasota High School homecoming dance at Robarts Arena.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: SHS Homecoming Weekend

Sarasota High School had their homecoming football game, Friday, Oct. 14, at Cleland Stadium and dance, Saturday, Oct. 15, at Robarts Arena.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cindy and Bob Christian
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Party on the Pass

The Sarasota Chapter of Interior Design Society hosted its first 'Party on the Pass' benefiting Trinity Charities at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron on Saturday, Oct. 15. Trinity Charities, Inc. is an HIV/AIDS service organization that provides services to individuals in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The bayside event included barbeque, drinks, live music from Stone Fish and a silent auction.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
John Mulane
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Celebrate Creativity Golf Tournament

Art Center Sarasota hosted its first Celebrate Creativity Golf Tournament Saturday, Oct. 15 at Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club. The group wanted to plan a fundraiser with a creative spin, encouraging golfers to dress in a special way. Awards featured were: most creative golf outfit, 50/50 raffle, putting contest, closest to the pin contest, and one could even win a BMW if he or she got a whole-in-one on hole six.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The residents of Golden Gate Pointe enjoy an evening picnic along the Bay Saturday, Oct. 15 behind Pier 550.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Golden Gate Pointe picnic

Residents at Golden Gate Pointe held their bi-annual picnic Saturday, Oct. 15 behind Pier 550.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A toddler tests out a possible Halloween costume as she races around the track.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Strider World Championship

Children ages 2 to 5 competed in the 2011 Strider World Championship at the Sarasota BMX Track this weekend.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
E.J., Sutton and Eric Odegard participated in the event.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Phillippi Shores 7k and fun run

Runners raced seven miles or a one mile fun run around Phillippi Shores International Baccalaureate World School as part of the New Balance/Manasota Track Club Racing Series.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Katt Hefner, Dr. Randall Morgan and Henry D. Hart Sr. rock out Thursday, Oct. 14 during Dr. Idol at Michael’s on East.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 14, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Dr. Idol 2011

Some of Sarasota County's best doctors rocked out for the third year in a row at Dr. Idol Thursday, Oct. 4 at Michael's on East.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the world's newest and most technologically advanced commercial aircraft.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 14, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Ready for take off

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner last night arrived from Lima, Peru and stayed overnight at the Sarasota Bradenton Inernational Airport. It departed today for Seattle.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Selby Botanical Gardens held their first performance of their Fall performance series, GartenFest, Sunday, Oct. 9 out by the Banyan trees at the Botanical Gardens. In this photo: Ashley Hassler. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 14, 2011
Photos of the Week

Enjoy some of our best photos this week from all Observers.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Jennifer Compton, Melanie DiVirgillio and Kelly Morrell
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 13, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce 91st Annual Meeting and Luncheon

Members of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce gathered for the 91st Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Spencer Opal-Levine hands out party favors to Daniel Mizrahi and Stefan Slavova.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 13, 2011
Third-grader parties for purpose

For the second year in a row, instead of asking for gifts on his birthday, Spencer Opal-Levine, 9, asked for charity donations. He calls it a "party with a purpose."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photos
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 13, 2011
Flying object makes a splash

The large red stapler that the Sarasota-based team, Accrisoft, designed for the 2011 Red Bull Flugtag, held Oct. 8, didn't exactly fly 1,800 feet over Tampa Bay as anticipated.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Donors of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County met Oct. 6 to surprise employees of several service agencies with orchids. Photo by Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 13, 2011
Community Foundation donors deliver smiles

Harry Leopold is attempting to sneak out of a group photograph. He's already in the elevator at the Community Foundation, heading upstairs, where he plans to watch 15 volunteers squeeze together and try not to block their faces with the tall blooming orchids they're about to deliver to local nonprofit organizations.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Janine Nunnery submitted this sunset photo, taken in Island Park in downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 13, 2011
Weekly Winner: Moor to Love

Janine Nunnery submitted this sunset photo, taken in Island Park in downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Devin Miller and JoJo Zolikoff race each other on the BMX track. Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 13, 2011
Sarasota BMX goes preschool

What seems to be chaos barreling down a BMX track is in reality carefully calculated moves, as two little racers jockey for position in a fierce fight for first place.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This home at 5132 Jungle Plum Road has five bedrooms, five baths, two half-baths, a pool and 6,928 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,875,000. Photo by Loren Mayo.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • October 13, 2011
Hidden Harbor home tops week's sales at $2,875,000

A home in Hidden Harbor tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota High School students will dress up as everything from their favorite sports team to nerd day during spirit week.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 12, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota High School Tacky Tourist Day

Students at Sarasota High School donned their tackiest tourist attire as part of the school's spirit week celebration.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mike and Jewel Ash.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 9, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Seussical Goes Science

When you mix Dr. Seuss and G Wiz, you get a science museum full of 150 people wearing Cat in the Hat caps. On Sunday, Oct. 9, G Wiz and The Players joined forces to encourage kids to learn and think outside of the box, and it was a fundraiser benefiting both groups. The event also acted as a kick-off for The Players' 'Seussical the Musical,' which starts Oct. 20.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mary Richardson, Leymis Bolanos Wilmott and Angela Rauter dance out from one of the banyan trees Sunday, Oct. 9 during GartenFest at Selby Botanical Gardens.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 9, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: GartenFest with Fuzion Dance

Selby Botanical Gardens held their first performance of their Fall performance series, GartenFest, Sunday, Oct. 9 out by the Banyan trees at the Botanical Gardens. The Fuzion Dance Artists performed under the Banyan trees to a large crowd.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ken and Krista Bragg
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 8, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Oktoberfest

Sam Sneade's Tavern hosted its first Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 8 with proceeds benefiting The Humane Society. They served brats, pretzels, rotisserie chicken and - of course - beer. And Northern Sounds provided authentic German music for the event.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Susan Loeffler, Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs stand in the middle of a group of Sailor Circus students after the meeting.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 7, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Official meeting of Circus Sarasota with Sailor Circus

Sailor Circus students and families were invited to come out Friday, Oct. 7 to the Sailor Circus Big Top on Bahia Vista to celebrate the new collaboration with Circus Sarasota. The short meeting allowed students and parents to not only celebrate the exciting news but also allowed for a question and answer session with CEO of Circus Sarasota Pedro Reis, Dolly Jacobs and Sailor Circus program director Susan Loeffler.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sierra van Such, Iliana Antony, Megan Marucs and Marisa Bregg donned pink for breast cancer awareness.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 6, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Temple Beth Sholom vs. Imagine School

Students at Temple Beth Sholom and Imagine School at Palmer Ranch competed in their last volleyball game of the season at the Sarasota Memorial Health Plex.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Occupiers cheer and wave their homemade signs as a car passes by with honks of encouragement Thursday, Oct. 6 during the Occupy Sarasota demonstration outside of Bank of America on Main and Orange downtown.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 6, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Occupy Sarasota

Occupy Wall Street has become a National news story and has started to inspire people in other larger cities around the country to "occupy" as well.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Brooklyn Borowski holds her pet rabbit, Thumper. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 6, 2011
Some bunny gets a special blessing

St. Wilifred Episcopal Church has a long-standing tradition of celebrating the feast of St. Francis with a Blessing of the Animals.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
"A stuffed turtle became a metaphor for my trip," J.W. Frye said. "There's a quote that goes 'Behold the turtle — he only makes progress when he sticks his neck out."
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 6, 2011
Biker hits the road for fundraiser

Having just returned from biking across the country for hospice, J.W. Frye will host 'Sarasota Celebrates Volunteers' Sunday, Oct. 16, at Payne Park Auditorium.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtney Berger at the collegiate FIRA Regatta held in April at Benderson Park. Courtesy photos.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 6, 2011
Former Sarasota Crew member rescues fellow rower

Courtney Berger is the first NSU athlete to receive the national sportsmanship award.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Trigga is 4 years old and needs a good home.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • October 6, 2011
Sarasota Animal Services sees increased adoption need

Sarasota County Animal Services won't turn away any animals that are dropped off at its facility on Bee Ridge Road.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This home at 313 Canal Road, which has two bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 1,918 square feet of living area, sold for $410,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 6, 2011
Riegels Landing home tops this week's sales at $505,600

A home in Riegels Landing tops transactions in this week's real estate. Cosimo and Concetta Tripoli, Sarasota, sold their home at 1254 Riegels Landing Drive to Joseph and Alison Rini, Sarasota, for $505,600.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Maria Lutz, Tracy Henderson, Rebecca Blitz and Penny Shuff. Chefs Phil Mancini and Tommy Klauber led the way and prepared each course before turning over the reins — and pots, pans and kitchen utensils — to the attendees.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 6, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: St. Martha's gets a taste of Italy at interactive dinner

The Taste of Italy Interactive Dinner held for St. Martha's Catholic School drew 150 eager participants to the event Saturday, Sept. 24, at Michael's On East.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jim Butler founded Paradise Homes in 2003. The company has since become one of the fastest-growing homebuilders in the Sarasota-Bradenton market. Photo by Mark Wemple.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • October 6, 2011
Homebuilder in Paradise

Jim Butler rarely hesitates to invest money - a lot of money - in his entrepreneurial ventures. His latest stake, homebuilding, has been a winner.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Peter Monaghan submitted this sunset photo, taken in Island Park near downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 6, 2011
Weekly Winner: A Walk in the Park

Peter Monaghan submitted this sunset photo, taken in Island Park near downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Nishit Patel, Megan Tommasi and Marci Reedy
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 5, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: YPG After Hours at Van Wezel

The Sarasota Young Professionals Group held its latest happy hour at Van Wezel, where members watched Henson Alternative's "Stuffed and Unstrung," featuring The Jim Henson Company's renowned puppeteers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ava, Neveh and Renyia completed two laps around Payne Park this morning.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • October 5, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Presidential fitness challenge

Students from the Suncoast School of Innovative Studies raced around the track at Payne Park as part of The President's Challenge -- a physical activity and nutrition program that helps people age 6 and older improve their fitness and eating habits.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
« 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Sarasota

1
Cyclist killed on Siesta Key
  • February 8, 2026
Cyclist killed on Siesta Key
2
Suncoast Waterkeepers regularly tests water quality at 12 sites in Sarasota Bay and its adjacent waters, including the Linley Street boat ramp on Longboat Key.
  • February 7, 2026
Sarasota, Manatee bayside beaches graded for water safety
3
Sarasota nonprofit Casting For The Kids helps children with cancer and their families breathe a little easier.
  • February 6, 2026
Annual fishing tournament casts for a cause
4
Jennifer Rominiecki brought the living museum concept to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens when she was named president and CEO in 2015.
  • February 5, 2026
Botanical gardens' potential lured Rominiecki family to Sarasota
5
Capt. A.J. Grande operates a "six pack" fishing charter business who often picks up and drops off customers at Nora Patterson Park.
  • February 5, 2026
Permits will be required for charter boat operators using county parks

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now