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Sarasota | Neighbors

First-grader Macy Meshad got Wendy’s and was enjoying a Frosty. When her dad Gavin was her age, he looked forward to walking down Orange from St. Martha’s to church because he got to leave school.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 20, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Southside Elementary Brings its Dads to Lunch

PHOTO GALLERY: Southside Elementary Brings its Dads to Lunch

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Hannah Smith, 3, puts decorative, little holes into her clay slab.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 20, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Creating with clay

Clay artist Judy Pirkey brought tons of air-dry clay and taught children how to create their very own Florida fossil plaques Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Selby Public Library. Students were each given a slab of clay and were taught how to add textured backgrounds, use stamps, make clay molds of fish and seashells and were even allowed to glue on real seashells that had been found earlier in the day along the beach by Pirkey.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Bill and Anndee, 10, Edwards pose together during lunch Monday, Sept. 19, at Phillippi Shores Elementary.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 19, 2011
VIDEO: Phillippi Shores celebrates Take Your Dad to School Week

Phillippi Shores Elementary dads and grandads are invited to have lunch with their kids all this week as part of Take Your Dad to School Week.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Gladys Jackson, Tarnara Byoce, 3, and Shwntel Thomas enjoy splashing around in the smaller fountain area of the Steigerwaldt/Jockey Children's Fountain at Bayfront Park.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 19, 2011
Photo of the Day: Fountain Fun

With heat in the high 80's and low mid 90's, many people are looking for ways to beat the heat around town. One fun place is the Steigerwaldt/Jockey Children's Fountain at Bayfront Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
...
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 18, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Church of the Redeemer Celebrates 400th Anniversary of The King James' Bible

PHOTO GALLERY: Church of the Redeemer Celebrates 400th Anniversary of The King James' Bible

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A few people held the banner and led the Walk for the Kids Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Lee Wetherington Boys and Girls Club.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 17, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: 2nd Annual Walk for the Kids

The Boys and Girls Club held their 2nd Annual Walk for the Kids and Day for Kids Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Lee Wetherington Boys and Girls Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Alexandria Anderson-Whitteaker and Tatiana Connelly served the potluck dinner and lemonade with their two scout leaders.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 17, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Bee Ridge Lutheran Church Holds a Potluck Fundraiser

PHOTO GALLERY: Bee Ridge Lutheran Church Holds a Potluck Fundraiser

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A large crowd came out for the final Friday Fest of the season Friday, Sept. 16, at the Van Wezel.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 16, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Final Friday Fest

The summer's final Friday Fest on the Bay happened Friday, Sept. 16, at the Van Wezel. The final band of the summer concert series was Bird Street Players, a combination of funk, soul and reggae.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
People go through the buffet put together by Word of Mouth catering Friday, Sept. 16, for the Ballet and Buffet event at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 16, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Ballet and Buffet

Designing Women hosted Ballet and Buffet with the Sarasota Ballet and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet Friday, Sept. 16, at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jessica Smith says she knew from the moment she saw Elijah's photo that he was meant to be her son.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 16, 2011
Photos of the Week

A selection of the best photos from all Observers this week.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
People love to get up and dance to the musicians at Friday Fest on the Bay.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 16, 2011
Weekend Best Bet: Friday Fest on the Bay

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall's final Friday Fest on the Bay will be happening tonight and will feature musical guests Big Night Out.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Judge Lee Haworth, Gwen MacKenzie and Karen Bogus were all honored at the sixth annual Leadership Breakfast Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 15, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: CYD sixth annual Leadership Breakfast

The Community Youth Development celebrated two community leaders of Sarasota County with the sixth annual Leadership Breakfast Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club. The two honorees were 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Lee Haworth and Gwen MacKenzie, CEO of Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2011
Cockatoo's mug seen everywhere

He's shared the stage with Shari Lewis, David Seville and the Chipmunks and Anita Bryant on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and even has his own mugshot from Folsom Prison, where he taught inmates patience, caring and responsibility.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Photo by Mallory Gnaegy.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2011
Booker High holds ceremony

The morning of Sept. 9, Booker High School held a flag-unfurling assembly in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Massimiliano Marra submitted this sunset photo, taken from the Ringling Bridge.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2011
Weekly Winner: The Red Eye

Massimiliano Marra submitted this sunset photo, taken from the Ringling Bridge.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Helen and Hal Pelta show a tray of buttons that contain Helen Pelta's favorite buttons in her collection.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 15, 2011
Neighbors: Miniature Artwork

Helen Pelta takes out hundreds of buttons in plastic bags and on button trays and starts laying them out on a table in the Gulf Gate Library.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
These broomsticks were too amazing to dirty up in a Quidditch match.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 15, 2011
Quidditch sweeps through campuses

You don't have to be Harry Potter to play the magical wizarding game of Quidditch. Although you may not able to zoom through the air on a broomstick, the earthbound version - Muggle Quidditch - still has its perks.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Saunders
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • September 15, 2011
MS&Co. sees growth

One of the more prominent realty firms on the Gulf Coast, Sarasota-based Michael Saunders & Co., will attack the residential real-estate market with a "think big" strategy.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
This Matthew Mattox sculpture, "Standing Bow," was installed in 2006. It is located in Sarasota.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 14, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Where Am I?

Be the first to answer this trivia question and we'll give you a shout out on Facebook.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
This little guy makes its home in a sea of purple flowers just outside the gardens' fence, next to the main parking lot.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 13, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Pretty in purple

It's not necessarily one of the most eye-catching flowers at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, but we thought it deserved a little recognition.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The exhibit will feature "Crown" by Douglas Schatz. The official unveiling is slated for November.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 12, 2011
Season of Sculpture to unveil sixth season

Ten new large-scale sculptures will be installed at Sarasota's Bayfront Park this November.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Expect lane closures and possible delays on Interstate 75, U.S. 301, U.S. 41, state Route 758 and state Route 72.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • September 12, 2011
Roadwork updates for week of Sept. 11

Construction work will take place this week on Interstate 75, U.S. 301, U.S. 41, state Route 789, state Route 758 and state Route 72.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota children promoting a healthy lifestyle are encouraged to attend a health summit Sept. 27.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 12, 2011
Sarasota plans children's health summit

A health summit planned for later this month will focus on issues related to healthy weight and preventing prescription drug misuse.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Students at the Ringling College of Art and Design and the University of South Florida fight for the ball.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 12, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Golden snitch

Straight out of the Harry Potter series, the magical sport of quidditch came to life during a day of matches put on by the Florida Quidditch Conference Saturday, at the 17th Street Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota Military Academy took part in the Remembrance March Sunday, Sept. 11 from Five Points Park to Payne Park.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 11, 2011
VIDEO: Remembrance March

Check out some video footage of the Remembrance March and the City of Sarasota World Trade Center Memorial.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Sarasota County Firefighters made their way down Main street Sunday, Sept. 11, for the Remembrance March and Celebration.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Remembrance March and Celebration

The Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund held a march from Five Points Park to Payne Park Sunday, Sept. 11. Following the march, there was a Sept. 11 memorial celebration at Payne Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Commissioner Joe Barbetta, Norm Schimmel and Mayor Susan Atwell stand back while Chief Mikel T. Hollaway speaks to the crowd.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 11, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: World Trade Center Memorial and Police Memorial Dedications

A crowd gathered at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, for the dedication of the World Trade Center Memorial and Police Memorial at the Sarasota Police Department.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Josh Schultz, Ronny Hinton, Stevenson Villarson Damas and Jayson Bardales donned their football jerseys for the pep rally.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 9, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Imagine School Pep Rally

Imagine School at Palmer Ranch held a pep rally Friday to kick off its first football and volleyball games of the year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The flags can be found at intersections along Main Street in downtown Sarasota.
    By
  • Mallory Gnaegy
  • September 9, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: In Rembrance

The city of Sarasota installed flags on the traffic light poles at Main Street intersections in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Braden River quarterback Steven Ross looks for an open receiver downfield during the first half.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 9, 2011
Photos of the week

A selection of the best photos from all Observers this week.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Gillette Bauer, Susan Pacer and Sofia Mascorro send their Life Savers race car zooming across a table.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 8, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA Life Saver Race Car Day

Out-Of-Door Academy fourth-graders built cars out of Life Savers candy for a fun-filled race activity.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Ghandi got lots of love from members of the local Chambers of Commerce. See more photos in the East Meets West photo gallery.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 8, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: PICTURE PURR-FECT

Ghandi is a tiger cub that lives at the Big Cat Habitat.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A new art program will bring art from local artists to the Federal Building, 111 S. Orange Ave., Sarasota.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 8, 2011
City makes call to artists

The city of Sarasota will display works of public art from local artists in the Federal Building.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 8, 2011
Marina Jack trial could be a year away

A lawsuit filed by Marina Jack that disputes the claim the restaurant owes $1.5 million in back property taxes could take another year to go to trial.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sgt. Chris Laster, on Patriot, and Deputy Sean Brophy, atop Valor, patrol Nokomis Public Beach.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • September 8, 2011
Video: Horses bridge public and law enforcement

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol is a specialized unit that serves neighborhoods, civic functions, holidays and special events.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Little hero marigolds bloom brightly.
  • By Rick Wielgorecki
  • September 8, 2011
Home & Garden: Pick the right plants

Here are some tips about what to look for when you're at the nursery choosing plants for your landscape. As you consider possible purchases, select cultivars with brightly colored leaves and/or flowers.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
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