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Your Observer

Should the Manatee County School District's sales tax levy expire in 2017, officials estimate losses of $30 million per year.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • April 9, 2015
Schools' needs exceed the district's wallet

With its sales tax levy set to expire in 2017, the Manatee County School District vets revenue options to fund projects and keep the district from falling off a financial cliff

  • East County
  • News
  • By Kourtney Kalahar
  • April 9, 2015
That Fit Girl: Meal prep

That Fit Girl: Meal prep

  • Sarasota
  • News
Despite the reduction in speed from U.S. 41 to Old Bradenton Road, Ringling College of Art and Design staff and students say cars frequently speed through the campus — a hazard they hoped to eliminate by closing the street to vehicular traffic.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2015
Street stakes

Despite numerous appeals from Ringling College staff and students, the Sarasota City Commission declined to vacate a portion of Old Bradenton Road on the school’s campus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2015
Commissioner hopes to facilitate new downtown bathrooms

Although he says it’s not priority No. 1, Commissioner Stan Zimmerman has raised the idea of adding more public bathrooms downtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Siesta Market is the only grocery store in the Village. File photo
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 9, 2015
Siesta Market to close after more than three decades on the Key

Vince and Peter Messina are closing the Siesta Market after owning the popular Siesta grocery store since 2001.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Norm Dumaine, Millie Small, Joyce Burnham and Renee Gluvna are four of five residents living near Fruitville Road Park who have led a charge to save — and improve — the parkland. Photo by David Conway
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 9, 2015
Residents reclaim neighborhood park

Not satisfied with the city’s decision just to preserve parkland at Fruitville and Beneva roads, residents are working to facilitate improvements at the site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
“That’s my goal — to help students be confident in learning,” retiring Bay Haven School of Basics-Plus fifth-grade teacher Jane Wiechmann said. Photo by Jessica Salmond
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 9, 2015
Aging workforce

Approximately 30% of Sarasota County government’s workforce will be eligible to retire in the next five years, along with 5% of teachers this year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 9, 2015
This week in history 4.9.15

A glimpse of the way things were from the Pelican Press archives.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Andy Mele is originally from the Hudson Valley area of New York. He worked as the executive director for Clearwater, which successfully got General Electric to dredge the Hudson River after years of nuclear plant leakages into the water system. Photo by J
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 9, 2015
Q+A with Andy Mele

An author and environmentalist, Andy Mele has been immersed in the local water systems through organizations such as the Sarasota Bay Watch and the Waterkeeper Alliance.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 9, 2015
Sarasota County Property Appraiser targets tax evaders

A third-party vendor will help the property appraiser round up fraudulent exemptions.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Angelina Grebe
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 9, 2015
High five moments of the week

The top five sports moments of the week.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 9, 2015
Our View | Parking on the causeway?

The city’s concept for John Ringling Causeway looks attractive. But it would be a motorists’ disaster.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 9, 2015
Microsoft announces store opening at Mall at UTC

Microsoft will open three new stores this summer, including one at The Mall at University Town Center.

  • East County
  • News
This home at 1192 Horizon View Drive has five bedrooms, six baths, a pool and 6,918 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.8 million. Photo by Amanda Morales
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 8, 2015
Home in Tortoise Estates sells for $2.8 million

A home in Tortoise Estates tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Antoinette Weinstein, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1192 Horizon View Drive to Jeffrey Gould and Lenore Conviser Gould, of Longwood, for $2.8 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Save Our Seabirds CEO David Pilston with the new sign, which will be posted on docks, launches, piers and bait shops throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • April 8, 2015
Save Our Seabirds hopes signs will leave pelicans off the hook

More than 90 new signs educate the public about what to do if they encounter a tangled bird.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This home at 602 S. Owl Drive sold for $4.55 million It has four bedrooms, four baths, two half-baths and 5,581 square feet of living area. Photo courtesy of Roger Pettingell
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • April 8, 2015
Four-bedroom Bird Key home sells for $4.55 million

A home on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Kerlyn Holdings Ltd. sold the home at 602 S. Owl Drive to Marie Baker and Mark Woglom, of Sarasota, for $4.55 million.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
All four candidates remaining in the City Commission race are scheduled to attend Monday's forum.
    By
  • David Conway
  • April 8, 2015
CONA, CCNA to host City Commission forum

As the May runoff election for the District 2 and 3 City Commission races draws nearer, two neighborhood organizations are teaming up for a candidate forum.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Two of the seven buildings were repainted in the past two years, and the other five will be repainted beginning May 1.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • April 8, 2015
Windward Bay recognized for comeback

The condominium is one of three small communities that the Florida Communities of Excellence named as a finalist in its ‘The Comeback Kid’ category.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 8, 2015
FDOT to begin Stickney Point bridge repairs Monday

The project will not cause lane closures until May.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sharon Black Floyd, Nancy Blackburn and Alex Quarles
    By
  • Heather Merriman Saba
  • April 8, 2015
First Annual Founders Luncheon

Designing Women Boutique hosted the First Annual Founders Luncheon on Wednesday, April 8, at The Francis.

  • Black Tie
Josh Drew, Amy Anthofer, Brett Hall, Michelle Nolan, Carla Hulderman, Monica Yadav, Angela Anderson, and Alana Wiley present a check Thursday at SPARCC.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • April 8, 2015
SPARCC receives donation for new cribs

A donation for $1,500 will go toward the purchase of cribs for the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center shelter. The funds were donated by Direct Energy in person to SPARCC on Thursday in the form of a large check.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Riverview High School Kiltie Band members appeared in support at the school board meeting.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • April 8, 2015
Riverview High Kilties kickstart fundraiser

The funding goal is $165,000.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 8, 2015
Community sports

East County community sports scores

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 8, 2015
High 5 moments

The top five sports moments of the week

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 8, 2015
Letters to the Editor | Sound off: Another bridge

We asked you for your traffic solutions in the April 2 editorial, “Forget the Legacy Trail: We need another bridge,” and you responded.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Hunter Norton is an attorney in Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick’s Sarasota office. Photo by Pam Eubanks
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 8, 2015
Conversation with Hunter Norton

Mill Creek resident Hunter Norton, an attorney with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, focuses his practice on business, construction and civil litigation.

  • East County
  • News
Each month, Greenbrook resident Joe Sidiski and other East County residents converge to change perceptions of ponds in their backyards. Photo by Amanda Sebastiano
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • April 8, 2015
Group’s pond scheme leads to new brochure

A new brochure POPs up to educate residents about the role of ponds in Lakewood Ranch and how to protect them.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 8, 2015
News Briefs

Jenny Wallenda dies at 87; County seeks applications

  • East County
  • News
Michael Sarzynski, 92, golfs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On March 20, he shot an unheard-of round of 82. Photo by Kristen Herhold
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • April 8, 2015
92-year-old golfer has stroke of success

Longboat Key Club golfer Michael Sarzynski shocks fellow golfers with a round of 82 — 10 strokes below his age.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 8, 2015
Our View: actions speak louder

We never believed Gov. Scott supported Medicaid expansion. He did little to push it through.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Franko Skugor of Serbia and Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain advanced to the men’s doubles finals of the 2014 Sarasota Open. File photo
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 8, 2015
Ranch nets Sarasota Open

After six years on Longboat Key, the Sarasota Open swings into the Lakewood Ranch Tennis Center.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • April 8, 2015
Sidelines

Smithers resigns as Cougars coach; ODA scores big on Senior Night; ODA crowns two county champs; Cougars top Mustangs

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 8, 2015
Who’s a good boy?

The Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch has its first certified Canine Good Citizen: Magnum, a 3-year-old Catahoula Leopard mix.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 8, 2015
Bean counter

Christian Lewis, 6, walked away from Lakewood Ranch Community Activities’ annual EGGstravaganza Easter event March 28, with a trophy-sized container of deliciousness.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Jennifer Tullio has run 11 marathons for her son, Grayson, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The first race was the New York City Marathon. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • April 8, 2015
Mom goes the extra 26.2 miles for son

Two marathons divided by six days over two coasts add up to Jennifer Tullio’s most rigorous physical challenge yet. But she’s running for a reason.

  • East County
  • News
Heritage Harbour South’s newest resident is a young buck — a 1-year-old white-tailed deer residents call Bambi. Residents could face fines for feeding, petting or playing with the deer. Courtesy photo
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • April 8, 2015
The buck stops here

Do you feed or pet this young buck in Heritage Harbour South? These actions could cost big bucks — and end up harming the deer.

  • East County
  • News
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St. Lucie County Administrator George Landry has been recommended by Howard Tipton to replace him as town manager as Tipton prepares to retire.
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