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Sarasota | Neighbors

    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 13, 2009
THE COOL TEACHER: Justin Niemann

Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences: Soccer ball in hand, Justin Niemann bounds down the stairs of his Siesta Key townhouse, hippie curls bouncing with his rhythm. Wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, he's ready to head to the beach and kick around a soccer ball.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 13, 2009
THE ATHLETE: Molly McKinney

Pine View School: When Pine View School let out for winter break last year, Molly McKinney made a break for it and landed herself in the hospital.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 13, 2009
THE PRINCIPAL: Kathy Helean

Imagine School: A lunch box, makeup case, purse, stuff-she-should-be-doing-at-home bag and workbag sit on top of Kathy Helean's desk. The principal at Imagine School, in Palmer Ranch, admits she hasn't moved in yet.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 13, 2009
THE VOLUNTEER: Stacey Stroth

Ashton Elementary: To 18-month-old Cason Stroth, a knock at the door can only mean one thing: his babysitter. Tears sliding down his cheeks, he tries to make a run for it.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 13, 2009
THE CAREGIVER: ShelleyStone

Out-of-Door Academy: Shelley Stone is a self-proclaimed 'big kid who hasn't grown up yet.'

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • August 6, 2009
Man on the street: Mystery Man

We asked Sarasota residents if they recognized the person in this photo, who is the subject of a story in the Aug. 6 Sarasota Observer. About 50% of people polled said they recognized him.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2009
Forty Carrots van receives free graphic gift-wrapping

You could call it a friendly gesture in a time of need.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2009
Blue-eyed babes bunch together

There they sat, swinging along without a care in the world last Wednesday, at Marina Jack.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2009
Teens hit the water for competition

Participants in the Brothers and Sisters summer teen program spent the day conquering the water Friday, July 31.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2009
Junior Olympian brings home silver

Jasmine Rosales, 13, represented the Eastern United States at the Junior Olympics National Finals July 23 through July 26 and took second place in the track-and-field event, earning a silver medal.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • August 5, 2009
Vitale gives $5,000 in college scholarships

Five Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County members were each presented with a $1,000 college scholarship from Dick Vitale and his wife, Lorraine, Wednesday, Aug. 5.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • August 2, 2009
Two Sarasota restaurants to close

5One6 Burns quietly closed July 26, and Canvas Cafe's last operation date is Saturday, Aug. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • July 31, 2009
Man on the street: Summer fun

We asked girls at Girls Inc. what they liked best about summer vacation.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 30, 2009
Siesta Key Beach Access 12 temporarily closes

Until noon today, Siesta Key Beach Access 12 will be closed while Erickson Consulting Engineers performs geotechnical core borings to improve area drainage.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 30, 2009
Magical event pairs up mutts and muggles

The Humane Society of Sarasota County will host its magical Harry Potter-themed event, Muggles 4 Mutts, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, in the HSSC Education Center, 2331 15th St., Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 30, 2009
Fellowship hall receives a face lift

Renovations to the Vamo United Methodist Church fellowship hall began a couple of weeks ago and are almost complete.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 30, 2009
Husband and wife co-author book

Authors John and Katherine Ford, of Palmer Ranch, held a book signing Saturday, July 25, at Books-A-Million for their newest novel, 'The Crumbling Empire: What Will Stop America's Downward Spiral?'

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • July 29, 2009
Man on the street: Circle theory

We strolled Palm Avenue to ask what locals think about installing roundabouts along Sarasota's bayfront.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • July 29, 2009
Profiles of Summer: The Gnarly Artist

After 35 years of painting the Pacific Ocean, Sarasota native and former pro surfer Chris Lundy returns to familiar waters.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • July 24, 2009
Man on the street: In writing

We browsed downtown Sarasota to ask people what are their favorite summer reads.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 23, 2009
Columbia Restaurant gains over-the-hill status

The original Columbia Restaurant, in Ybor City, was founded in 1905. It is the oldest restaurant in the state. Now the oldest restaurant in Sarasota, the St. Armands Circle location celebrated its 50th anniversary last weekend.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 23, 2009
One man's trash is another's artwork

Anita Wexler and the Sarasota County Arts Council co-hosted "Trashed," an eco-friendly art reception Wednesday, July 15, at the Arts Council.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 23, 2009
'Design Star' holds red carpet premiere

Even the paparazzi were after him. Interior designer Jason Champion made his television debut at a premiere screening of HGTV's 'Design Star' Sunday, July 19, at Burns Court Cinema. Due to an ad he posted on Craigslist, several 'paparazzi' photographers stalked his every move.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • July 22, 2009
Man on the street: Vacation destination

We hit the streets to find out locals' favorite places for a 'stay-cation.' With many people choosing to stay close to home for vacations this year, we rounded up your top nearby suggestions.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • July 22, 2009
Photo of the day: Fishing for food

This pelican was spotted gulping down a fish that an onlooker fed to him Wednesday afternoon, near the downtown Sarasota bayfront.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 20, 2009
Photo of the day: Big bite

In between mouthfuls of White Berry's original yogurt topped with Oreo cookies, 6-year-old Kyle Upman tells The Observer, "It's good!"

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • July 17, 2009
Man on the street: Secret Sarasota

We asked, and you told us: What is the best-kept secret in Sarasota?

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 17, 2009
Mote treats rare sea turtle that swallowed balloon

A Kemp's ridley turtle was found in distress Tuesday, July 14, on south Lido Beach, after it had swallowed a balloon.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • July 16, 2009
Man on the street: doggie dining

We hit the streets in the Hillview area and Main Street to ask one question: Are you in favor of the doggie-dining ordinance.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 16, 2009
Sarasota residents celebrate graduation

Cadet Adam Davidson DeMarco, above, graduated Saturday, May 23, from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • By Maggie Pahos
  • July 15, 2009
Man on the street: Larger than life

We polled passerby near the "Unconditional Surrender" statue on Sarasota's bayfront and asked one question: Should the statue stay on the bayfront or be moved to a less public space?

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 15, 2009
Photo of the day: Curb appeal

Old Heidelberg, the European pastry shop on State Street, was spotted getting a facial this afternoon.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 10, 2009
Help clean the reefs, ocean and beach

It doesn't matter whether you dive, swim, wade or walk. The Suncoast Reef and Lido Beach cleanups need volunteers to rake these sites of debris Saturday, July 11.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Loren Mayo
  • July 10, 2009
Heavy metal

Driving east of I-75, just after Proctor and Clark roads merge, the Observer spotted this and several other freestanding abstract sculptures sunbathing in a front lawn.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2009
SYC shows red, white and blue spirit

July 4 was a family affair at Sarasota Yacht Club. Grandparents, parents and their little ones were clad in patriotic colors galore to celebrate the holiday.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2009
A bloody good time

You've probably seen them on the Discovery Channel series 'Deadliest Catch.' On Tuesday, July 6, Time Bandit captains Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand stopped by Hyatt Place for a meet-and-greet reception and to give Sarasota a taste of Captain John's Bloody Mary mix.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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