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Sarasota | Neighbors

Kindergartner Lena Zide tells us what makes her mom special.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • May 5, 2011
Southside kids get sweet on their moms (VIDEO)

The Sarasota Observer caught up with students at Southside School to talk about their moms and Mother's Day. (VIDEO)

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Christopher Brunn submitted this sunset photo, taken at Crescent Beach on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 5, 2011
WEEKLY WINNER: Beachside Bonding

Christopher Brunn submitted this sunset photo, taken at Crescent Beach on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
André Johnson
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • May 5, 2011
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Andre Johnson

Andre Johnson has been playing tennis for years but didn't get into the competitive side of it until he was 10.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Love bugs find a cozy corner on Main Street, between Orange and Lemon avenues.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • May 3, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Love is in the air

Also known as the honeymoon bug, kissing bug or double-headed bug, Love bugs seem to be everywhere lately.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Have you seen me and my alligator? Click "READ MORE" and leave your guess!
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • May 2, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Guessing game

Can you guess where in Sarasota this lifelike sculpture is located?

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Tim Thurman led the Longboat Key Turtle Watch group that found the first nest Sunday on the Manatee County side of Longboat Key.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • May 2, 2011
Two turtle nests found on first day of season

Volunteers found the first loggerhead turtle nests of the season Sunday on Longboat Key. Volunteers also discovered a nest this morning on Siesta Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sierra Yeomans gets ready to make a putt.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 30, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Dance Art Food Festival

The Dance Art Food Festival featured dance performances, unique art vendors and eight authentic cuisines prepared by Chef Paul Mattison and was held at Van Wezel.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Marlow's owner brought him out to enjoy Siesta Fiesta.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 30, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Fiesta

The 33rd annual Siesta Fiesta returned to Siesta Key over the weekend.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Anna Carreira, Morena Robinson, Kate Konecny, Colin Iverson, Cha Cha Bugatti and Kelsey Dow break it down on the dance floor.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 30, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: RHS PROM

Dressed to impress in gowns and tuxes, Riverview High School seniors stepped into the Ritz-Carlton ballroom for a night they'd never forget -- prom! The event was themed "Tomorrow Never Dies."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Robert Warren, Dr. Sherry Lawrence, Angela Hartvigsen, Monica Slater Van Buskirk and Norman Olshansky were the speakers at the 10th Annual Education Celebration Friday, April 29 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 29, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Van Wezel Foundation Education Celebration

The Van Wezel Foundation's 10th Annual Education Celebration happened Friday, April 29 at the Van Wezel. The event included breakfast, speakers recapping the year as well as looking towards the future, followed by a performance for the attendees and Sarasota and Manatee County school children of "There's An Alligator Under My Bed, A Nightmare In My Closet, And Something My Attic".

  • Sarasota
  • News
Angela Ward and Holly Kraft wear Queen Elizabeth cardboard masks Friday, April 29 while celebrating the royal wedding at the Ritz Carlton.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 29, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: A Royal Affair

The Ritz Carlton in Sarasota celebrated the royal wedding by hosting a 4 a.m. live broadcast and breakfast affair. The event had 150 people in attendance. Many of the people who attended the event dressed up and wore extravagant hats.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Donna McGarry poses with her team, the 1992 Blue Jays, during their World Series game against the Atlanta Braves Friday, April 29 out at Twin Lakes.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 29, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Ashton Elementary's Fifth Grade World Series

The fifth graders at Ashton Elementary recreated the 1947 and 1992 World Series games Friday, April 29 out at Twin Lakes.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Jackie Watanabe, Cheryl Fuller, Katelyn Knaak, Amanda Ortega and Gabriela Ortega enjoy themselves at the Paint the Town Blue event.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 28, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Paint the Town Blue

The Paint the Town Blue event was a big success Thursday, April 28 at Westfield Southgate. The sponsors of the event included the Junior League, Westfield Southgate and The Child Protection Center. The event was held to grow awareness about child abuse prevention in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Garden Club members Ginger Vance, Bill Dalgarno and Wilda Meier
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2011
Garden Club dedicates tree

Forty Carrots preschoolers joined the Sarasota Garden Club in an Arbor Day tree planting and dedication ceremony Jan. 21

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Julie Eisele and Kay Chandler
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2011
Women exercise their flower power

The first time Julie Eisele attended a service at Church of the Redeemer, the priest asked everyone who chaired a committee to stand up and be recognized.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Robert Martini
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 28, 2011
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Robert Martini

Robert Martini got into prone paddleboarding seven years ago while he was living in Hawaii.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Malcolm Arrick submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 28, 2011
WEEKLY WINNER: FLIGHT OF FANCY

Malcolm Arrick submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
ODA student Lisa Hoffman created her square with an actual cell phone.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 27, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Hello, is anyone there?

Did you know Out-of-Door Academy's Siesta Key campus has an artsy walkway created by its students?

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
C.J. Fishman, Monica Kennedy and John Cranor were the 2011 honorees.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 26, 2011
Photo Gallery: Celebrate Outstanding Leadership Awards Luncheon

Leadership Sarasota County held a special celebration recognizing and saluting the top leaders of Leadership Sarasota County alumni from the last three decades.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
We snapped this photo somewhere in Sarasota. Leave your guess below!
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 26, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Looks fishy!

Can you guess where in Sarasota this photo was taken? Click 'Read More,' and give us your best guesses under 'Reader Comments' below the photo.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Leah and Alaina Kompare
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 23, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt

The little ones collected colorful Easter eggs and participated in fun activities Saturday, on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cecelia Mould, Jake Hoddinott, Carly Birnbach, Danika Hoddinott and Isabella Volkert are in awe off Spaghetti the Clown's amazing tricks.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 23, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: SYC Children's Easter Party

The Easter Bunny hopped to Sarasota Yacht Club Saturday for some fun Easter-themed festivities.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
People follow the cross down Main Street while singing "Holy God" as they make their way from station to station Friday, April 22, during the Stations of the Cross event.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 22, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Stations of the Cross walk

Approximately 400 people participated in the walk of the 14 Stations of the Cross Friday, April 22, Good Friday, throughout downtown Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Norman Olshansky and Mary Lou Bale gave the event a thumbs up.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 21, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Mega Mingle

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce brought area nonprofits together with the movers and shakers from Sarasota businesses at its Mega Mingle.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Maria Mares, Christine Rogers and Alene Fowler
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 21, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: Little Black Dress Night

Junior League held Little Black Dress Night, a cocktail and fashion show soiree at Saks Fifth Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Sarasota Garden Club members Ginger Vance, Bill Dalgarno, Wilda Meier, Shirley Cook, Marvera Murphy and Jane Lawrence today planted a new tree at Forty Carrots.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 21, 2011
Forty Carrots, Garden Club celebrate Arbor Day (VIDEO)

Preschoolers at Forty Carrots commemorated Arbor Day with the planting of a new tree by the Sarasota Garden Club and received tips on caring for it from Amy Meese of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
CeCe Knight shampoos her hair and washes her arms and legs using only one gallon of water.
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 21, 2011
Brookside celebrates Earth Day (VIDEO)

A Brookside Middle School student showers using only one gallon of water for a school Earth Day project.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Rae Alexakos, chairwoman Bobbie Lincoln, chapter president Barbara Young, Mildred Straeffer and Betsy Hannan
    By
  • Maria Amodio
  • April 21, 2011
Pi Beta Phi alums honor Founders Day

Members of the Pi Beta Phi alumni club of Sarasota-Manatee held their annual Founders Day luncheon Saturday, April 9, at Sarasota Yacht Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Mary Lynn Desjarlais, Loren Mayo, Leslie Leonard, Brooke O’Malley, Lori Fail and Janet McIntyre
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 21, 2011
Bartenders stride into tips for charity

Celebrity bartenders Mary Lynn Desjarlais, Loren Mayo, Leslie Leonard, Brooke O'Malley, Lori Fail and Janet McIntyre were decked out in their best Western wear during InStride's charity bartending fundraiser Thursday, April 14, at Polo Grill and Bar.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
D.T. Emer submitted this sunset photo, taken near Palmer Ranch.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 21, 2011
WEEKLY WINNER: Drape Effect

D.T. Emer submitted this sunset photo, taken near Palmer Ranch.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A new addition to downtown is a solar compactor called "Big Belly."
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 20, 2011
Photo of the Day: FEED ME!

A new waste disposal contraption has shown up on Main Street across the street from Hollywood 20. The Big Belly Solar Compactor has both the logo for Waste Management and city of Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 20, 2011
Sarasota County represents at the 2011 Boston Marathon

Out of the more than 20,000 people who ran in the 2011 Boston Marathon Monday, April 18, there were 16 runners from Sarasota and one from Osprey.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Keith Hagan along with his daughter Lianna Hagan and LT Hamilton get ready to go on a ride on the Royal Express on Sunday, April 17 during South Bay's Family Fun Day.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 19, 2011
Southbay enjoys a day of food, family and fun

Southbay Yacht & Racquet Club held their 8th Family Fun Day from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 17 in the park area by the tennis courts.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Trinity Redhead and Arianne Shedlock, 8, hold up the caterpillar they found during the Earth Day Celebration. The girls also had caterpillars painted across their noses and named their new friend "Tatty".
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 19, 2011
Earth Day celebrated out at Oscar Scherer

Oscar Scherer's 22nd Annual Earth Day celebration happened this Sunday, April 17 out at Oscar Scherer State Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Rabbi Glickman holds up the sacred Seder plate and gefilte fish plate that are tradtionally served during Passover.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • April 18, 2011
Temple Emanu-El celebrates Passover with Seder dinner

Members and friends of Temple Emanu-El's celebrated the beginning of Passover with a traditional Seder dinner on Monday, April 18 at Temple Emanu-El.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Victoria Scherer and Allison Farnsworth
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • April 16, 2011
PHOTO GALLERY: ZiNfest

Morton's Gourmet Market held its annual ZiNfest Celebration Saturday, which featured more than 30 samples of Zinfandels, zin-friendly culinary sensations and a silent auction and raffle.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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