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Sarasota | Neighbors

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2009
Gingerbread house takes after mansion

The 6,000-piece gingerbread mansion, with its 200 golden sunflowers, 130 scroll-and-leaf panels and 60 shimmering starflowers, took more than three months to create.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2009
The Year in Pictures

Compelling moments. Timeless occasions. Outstanding memories. A look back at some of the most memorable photos published in The Sarasota Observer this year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 22, 2009
Crew girls gain early college acceptance

The University of Virginia, Boston University and the University of California, San Diego, have accepted three Sarasota Crew rowers bound for college in 2010.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 21, 2009
Oak Park School names new principal

Venice High School Assistant Principal Ronald DiPillo will become the new head of Oak Park School in January 2010.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 18, 2009
Sarasota school employees collect 200 toys

The U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Program will receive about 200 toys this year from district employees.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 17, 2009
Rotarians give stellar performance

Bubba Claus asks kids to leave out Moon Pies and Jack Daniels on Christmas Eve.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 17, 2009
In a galaxy far, far away ...

Sarasota residents Malaka and Ryan Hilton, of Admiral Travel International, witnessed the world debut of Virgin Galactic's SpaceshipTwo, the world's finest commercial-manned spaceship, designed to take thousands of private astronauts into space.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 17, 2009
Cardinal Mooney sings songs for global outreach

Through its Global Outreach program, Cardinal Mooney students have been conducting video conferences with Iringa Girls Secondary School, in Iringa, Tanzania.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 17, 2009
Church sends morale booster to soldiers

For the third year in a row, members of the Church of the Redeemer are sending care packages to U.S. military troops.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • December 16, 2009
Black Tie & Tales

Read this week's social column, Black Tie & Tales.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 15, 2009
USF students create gingerbread house

University of South Florida students entered their USF-style gingerbread house into a mall contest to benefit community youth.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 10, 2009
Local restaurants earn Golden Spoon awards

Eight local restaurants and one chain received honors.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2009
Church collects gifts for Immokalee

Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Giving Tree Ministry collected a record number of gifts this year. Co-chairs Kimberly and Gary Chmielewski coordinated the campaign and collected more than $16,300 - more than any other year.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2009
Christmas Candy Land features treats

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida, Suncoast Sarasota region will host 'Christmas in Candy Land' from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Michael's On East Ballroom.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2009
Toy drive to benefit Child Protection Center

Sarasota Architectural Salvage will host its fourth annual holiday party and toy drive from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at 1093 Central Ave.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2009
SMJF books celebrated author for Women's Day lunch

Author Iris Krasnow was the featured speaker at the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation Women's Day held Dec. 7, at the Beatrice Friedman Theater, on the federation campus.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2009
Golfers putt for charity

Four teams, each representing various branches of the Armed Forces, gathered for the sixth annual Armed Forces Cup Nov. 13, at Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 9, 2009
ODA students impact younger generation

Students at The Out-of-Door Academy recently spent time with kindergarten children at Booker Elementary School.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • December 8, 2009
Black Tie & Tales

Read this week's Black Tie & Tales by Molly Schechter.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2009
Baritone produces blow-out sound

Three Sarasota vocalist groups serenaded the audience that gathered for the tree-lighting ceremony Nov. 27, at J.D. Hamel Park - but only one of them blew out the lights on the Christmas tree.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2009
Family transforms street for the season

One Laurel Park family continues keeping with its favorite holiday tradition.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • December 3, 2009
Students decorate Christmas creations

There was evident excitement in the air, while Bay Haven third-graders began their celebration of the holiday season by making gingerbread houses in their classroom Dec. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • December 2, 2009
Black Tie & Tales

Read this week's social column, Black Tie & Tales, by Molly Schechter.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • November 29, 2009
Photo of the day: Heavy rocker

Wrapped up for Christmas with no place to go, this giant-sized rocking chair was spotted in The Players Theatre parking lot.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 25, 2009
Ballet performs 'The Nutcracker'

Sarasota Ballet's sparkling production and holiday classic, "The Nutcracker," will run for three performances only Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, at the Sarasota Opera House.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving drive feeds the hungry

Each year, the Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program hosts a Thanksgiving food drive; the program was started in 1987 by former Sarasota Mayor Fredd Atkins.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 25, 2009
Thrifty fashions thrill trendy parishioners

The Saint Boniface Episcopal Church Thrift Shop held a fashion show and luncheon featuring sport, casual and dramatic eveningwear Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the church community center on Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 25, 2009
Urfer Family Park dedication goes Western for ribbon cutting

Jack Urfer showed off his playful side when he volunteered to be "branded" with a branding iron at the Urfer Family Park ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication Saturday, Nov. 14.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving thoughts

Nine kids from Imagine School on Palmer Ranch, Emma E. Booker Elementary and Ashton Elementary School shared their Thanksgiving plans, their favorite - and most-despised - turkey-day foods and why they're thankful.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • November 25, 2009
SWEET GIGS: Animal instinct

As the animal department manager at Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Jenna Forrester considers her job anything but work.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • November 24, 2009
Black Tie & Tales

Read this week's social column, Black Tie & Tales, by Molly Schechter.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Robin Roy
  • November 23, 2009
Holiday garbage collection schedule

Ridding yourself of Thanksgiving leftovers will have to wait until next week.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • November 20, 2009
Photo of the day: Friendly faces

Students at Emma E. Booker Elementary School spent Friday, Nov. 20, talking about their Thanksgiving plans.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • November 19, 2009
Scouts feed hungry with 10,000 pounds of food

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts gathered shopping bags filled with food as part of the annual Scouting for Food Drive.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2009
Pioneer Day offers unique historic event

The Sarasota Senior Theater Group was one of many artists, authors and craftsmen that demonstrated its creative work at Pioneer Day Saturday, Nov. 14, at Pioneer Park.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2009
Styles' legacy, tradition carry on

On Veterans Day, a memorial to the late Capt. Ralph Styles was held at the Siesta Key gazebo.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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