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Sarasota | Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 23, 2010

Couple bedazzles home with lights

Dallas and Lynn Earl, ages 89 and 93, have been dressing their home in thousands of icicle lights for the past nine years

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 23, 2010

Athlete of the Week: Donna Loud

This week's featured athlete is "Marathon Maniac," Donna Loud.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 21, 2010

A little Mote music

Members of the Sarasota Orchestra held two holiday performances in the Mote Aquarium courtyard on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 16, 2010

Bay Haven rocks around the Christmas tree

Bay Haven School of Basics-Plus third-graders trekked off to the courthouse Thursday with their teacher, Missy Owens and The Grinch. All had a merry time singing carols, decorating the tree and attempting the moonwalk.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 16, 2010

Spinella serenades Republicans with seasonal songs

World-class tenor Joseph Spinella gave a starry performance at the Sarasota and Longboat Republican Clubs monthly dinner gathering.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Maria Amodio
December 16, 2010

Donor spotlight: Alexis Upham

Each week, The Sarasota Observer will feature a different donor who is involved with Season of Sharing, a 10-year, community-wide fundraising partnership created by the Community Foundation.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 16, 2010

Athlete of the Week: Alex Nugent

Cardinal Mooney High School senior Alex Nugent just finished his last football season as quarterback.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 16, 2010

Neighbors: Briana Calderon

Briana Calderon, a 16-year-old junior at Booker High School for the Visual Performing Arts, says that her love for art has been a part of her life since she was a little girl.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 16, 2010

Selby guests pine for decorations

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Great Room by the Bay was transformed into a holiday wonderland for the Marie Selby Gardens Associates' Wine, Dine and Pine event Nov. 30.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 16, 2010

Phillippi Shores lifts spirits with gifts

Along with the help of parents, staff and community members, Phillippi Shores Elementary School guidance counselor Aimee Barnes and I.B. coordinator Cynthia McGrail rounded up a roomful of gifts to make the holidays extra special for 79 needy children.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 14, 2010

History buffs throw sublime celebration

The Historical Society of Sarasota County, Daughters of the American Revolution Sara DeSoto Chapter and the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation celebrated fellowship and food during an old-fashioned holiday get-together Tuesday, Dec. 14, at DAR.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 14, 2010

PHOTO: Baby, it's cold outside

Plants and bushes in downtown Sarasota were bundled up last night for the freeze warning.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 13, 2010

Colorful cast engages in murder mystery dinner

The Sarasota Orchestra Association held a 1920s style murder mystery dinner drama called "In Gold Blood" yesterday.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 11, 2010

Furry friends get frisky at the park

Little dogs, big dogs and event some cats paraded over to Selby Five Points Park to pose for pictures with Santa Claus Saturday.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 11, 2010

Belles of the ball

Sarasota Yacht Club held its Holly Ball Saturday, Dec. 11, when members dolled themselves up in gowns and tuxes before gathering with one another for the festive occasion.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 11, 2010

Boat Parade lights up the waters of Sarasota

Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights lit up the waters from City Island all the way to Sarasota Bayfront Park on Saturday, Dec. 11.

Sarasota
News

Loren Mayo
December 10, 2010

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Oak smoke

Nancy's Bar-B-Q will officially open in approximately six weeks, at 301 Pineapple Ave.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 9, 2010

Healthy Families Sarasota celebrates the holiday season

The Healthy Families Sarasota held their 13th annual holiday party at the First Baptist Church on Main Street on Thursday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 8 PM.

Sarasota
News

Loren Mayo
December 9, 2010

Observer Challenge kicks off with cocktails

This weekend, the first round of The Observer Cup tournament and the 11th annual Observer Challenge will take place.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 9, 2010

Little superstars perform 'A Christmas Story'

Students at the Dreams are Free School at Bishop Nevins Academy donned angel, animal, king and shepherd costumes Tuesday for their nighttime performance of "A Christmas Story."

Sarasota
Neighbors

Observer Staff
December 9, 2010

Entrepreneur's book sales to benefit charities

All profits from Carol Green's book, "Spiritual Transformation in America," will be donated to national foundations, such as the Lupus Research Institute and Sunshine from Darkness.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 9, 2010

Big Cat Habitat brings out its babies

The Rosaire family held a pre-season gathering Nov. 29 at the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Cost Sanctuary.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 9, 2010

Buchanan to share wishes with soldiers

Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, is collecting holiday Christmas and Hanukkah cards for U.S. soldiers who were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 9, 2010

Tot Shabbat kids gift holiday cheer

Children and their parents participated in a special Tot Shabbat Nov. 27 at Temple Emanu El.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 6, 2010

Bromeliad tree lights up the night

Selby Gardens held its first annual Bromeliad Tree Lighting Ceremony with champagne and music by the gospel choir of the Westcoast School for Human Development. The holiday kick-off event precedes the opening of Selby's tropical celebration, Lights in Bloom.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 6, 2010

Jewish Federation devotes day to women

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee held its fourth annual Women's Day Monday. The event is an opportunity for women to come together over lunch.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 5, 2010

Residents light up Laurel Park for the holidays

Laurel Park residents gathered Sunday for their annual holiday gala.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 4, 2010

Five Points gets jolly with holly tree

Selby Five Points Park held a tree-lighting ceremony Saturday before the holiday parade.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 4, 2010

PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Holiday Parade

The Sarasota Holiday Parade took place downtown Saturday, Dec. 4 starting at 7 PM.

Sarasota
News

Rachel S. OHara
December 4, 2010

BKYC makes an evening of Lighting of the Fleet

Bird Key Yacht Club held their annual Lighting of the Fleet event on Saturday, Dec. 4. The members of the club enjoyed looking out at the docks filled with boats decorated in bright lights and Christmas decorations. The evening also included dinner and entertainment by the Sarasota Chorus of the Keys. The members were also asked to bring a toy for Toys for Tots.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Loren Mayo
December 3, 2010

Hot cars and cool chicks

Encore Motorcars held a lavish shopping affair featuring Christmas mojitos.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rachel S. OHara
December 3, 2010

SYC Lighting of the Fleet gets Tropical

The Sarasota Yacht Club held their annual Lighting of the Fleet on Friday, Dec. 3. The event brought our hundreds of members and their families for an evening full of fun, food and lots of Christmas lights. The theme for the competition was 'Tropical Christmas'.

Sarasota
News

Rachel S. OHara
December 3, 2010

Lighting of the Circle lights holiday cheer

The annual tree lighting ceremony that has taken place on St. Armands Circle for the last 11 years took place this past Friday, Dec. 3 at 6 PM. St. Armands Holiday Night of Lights was a big success drawing hundreds of people to the circle to enjoy an evening of holiday fun.