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Your Observer

In November, School Board Chairman Bob Gause asked board members to submit one goal for the district to accomplish in 2015.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 8, 2014
Manatee County School Board plans for 2015

At its workshop from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 9, the Manatee County School District board members will discuss goals for 2015. The workshop is followed by a School Board meeting at 5:45 p.m.

  • East County
  • News
Featured musical guests Federico Agostini and Derek Han
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 8, 2014
Sonata a Due

Sonata a Due

  • Black Tie
The purchase includes the land but not the current medical practice near St. Armands Circle. (Robin Hartill)
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • December 7, 2014
SMH plans for St. Armands satellite clinic

A subcommittee approved the $3.6 million purchase of the property where St. Armands Medical Center is currently located.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Since the middle of November, Sarasota High School junior Joshua Wilson has allegedly posted five tweets referencing plans for a school shooting.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 7, 2014
School shooting tweets lead to Sarasota High arrest

Sarasota police arrested 16-year-old Joshua Wilson Friday, after discovering several tweets and a picture in which he appeared to be planning a shooting at Sarasota High School.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The new location includes amenities such as two reading gardens, a teen center and a technology lab. File photo.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 7, 2014
Gulf Gate Library mall location to close

After more than a year of construction, the new library building on Curtiss Avenue will open Saturday, Jan. 24.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
A float made by the Sarasota Tabernacle Christian School made its way down Main Street for the Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 7, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade

Main Street was the place to be on Saturday night to welcome the season with the Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight has issued a warning to the public regarding 25i-NBOMe, a synthetic drug that recently led to a teen's overdose.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 7, 2014
Sarasota County teen's overdose leads to drug arrests

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office this weekend arrested several teens on a variety of drug charges including possession of 25i-NBOMe, a relatively new drug similar to LSD.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Manatee County Commissioner and business owner Vanessa Baugh addresses an FDOT representative.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 7, 2014
Merchants hear from FDOT, county

Merchants along Market Street in Lakewood Ranch are concerned construction of the diverging diamond interchange at University Parkway and Interstate 75 will impact their businesses.

  • East County
  • News
Nik Wallenda spoke to the crowd during his walk.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 7, 2014
MONDAY EVENT MASHUP: Weekend photo events

Nik Wallenda's latest wire walk; Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party; Diamond and Crystal Ball; and MORE!

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Malcolm Ainscough, Ellen Berman and Brian Lipton
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 7, 2014
Designing Women Boutique Dinner & Style Show Gala 'Serengeti Nights - Passport to Elegance'

Designing Women Boutique Dinner & Style Show Gala 'Serengeti Nights - Passport to Elegance'

  • Black Tie
Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi with Country Club Shores board members Alan Rose, president Gary Coffin, Joe Moccia, Charlie Campbell, Jack Kazanciyan and Armando Linde
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Country Club Shores holiday party

On Dec. 7, Country Club Shores celebrated the holiday season at Bird Key Yacht Club. The holiday party has been an annual event since the 1960s, and Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi was the keynote speaker.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Margaret Noble and Sue Reese
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Island Chapel Holiday Omelets Brunch

On Dec. 7, Longboat Island Chapel held its Holiday Omelets Brunch and mini Christmas Bazaar. Proceeds from the bazaar went toward helping the church.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bob Zimmerman leads The Noblemen during its performance.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: University Place Toys for Tots/ Winterfest

University Place residents got into the gift-giving spirit Dec. 7, at the community's Toys for Tots/Winterfest event at the clubhouse. Attendees brought toys for admission into the event,w which featured live music, food and neighborhood socializing.

  • East County
  • News
Becky Passanante shares laughs with Dick Crouch and Jim Neale.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Diamond and Crystal Charity Ball

University Park Women's Club hosted its ninth annual Diamond and Crystal Ball, Dec. 6, in the community's clubhouse.

  • East County
  • News
Meghan Neu and Danny Riordan portray Mary and Joseph.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Night in Bethlehem

East County residents walked the streets of Bethlehem to see the birth of Jesus, during Living Lord Lutheran's Night in Bethlehem event Dec. 6.

  • East County
  • News
Gary and Kathy Heckman find a table with Crissy and Bill Stasiuk.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 6, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Waterlefe Grand Opening

About 200 residents of Waterlefe gathered Dec. 6 at the Waterlefe River Club to celebrate the facility's grand reopening.

  • East County
  • News
Beverly Albertson and Philip Segerstrom
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 6, 2014
22nd annual Hot Dogs and Cool Cats 'Laugh Your Paws Off' Gala featuring Sinbad

22nd annual Hot Dogs and Cool Cats 'Laugh Your Paws Off' Gala featuring Sinbad

  • Black Tie
Alden and Ginny Keyser
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Bird Key Yacht Club Lighting of the Fleet

On Dec. 6, Bird Key Yacht Club held its annual Lighting of the Fleet, where members' yachts were lit up with Christmas decorations.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Commodore Joe Sever, Ted Janssen, John Shea and Jim Fox
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Harbour lighting of the Docks

On Dec. 6, Longboat Harbour hosted its annual Lighting of the Docks celebration. Residents walked around the property admiring each one's individually decorated docks while drinking eggnog.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mary and Newt McCollough enjoy the boats' lights.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Old Braden River Historical Society Christmas Boat Parade

Dec. 6, boats sporting Christmas lights, wreaths, ornaments and other holiday decor sailed down Braden River from Jiggs Landing to Linger Lodge for Old Braden River Historical Society's annual Christmas Boat Parade.

  • East County
  • News
Hundreds of people came to watch Nik Wallenda walk a hundred feet above Sarasota Ford.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Ford Grand Opening

Nik Wallenda, king of the hirewire, walked over Sarasota Ford during the grand opening of the new facilities and show room Saturday night.

  • Sarasota
  • News
 Best friends Reagan Baker and Ariel Schreiber make pencil holders at a booth by Home Depot.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Winter Wonderland

Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch families enjoyed arts and crafts and other festivities Dec. 6 at the school's Winter Wonderland fundraiser.

  • East County
  • News
Dave Ochsendorf with daughter Jessie, 3
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party (gallery #3)

On Dec. 6, the fourth annual Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party raised money for the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club. The event, at the Islandside Driving Range, included food and drinks from nearly 30 area restaurants and a raffle with a grand prize of $20,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Robbie Ball, of Blue Dolphin Café
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party (gallery #2)

On Dec. 6, the fourth annual Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party raised money for the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club. The event, at the Islandside Driving Range, included food and drinks from nearly 30 area restaurants and a raffle with a grand prize of $20,000.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Daniela Landry-Hernandez gives Santa a fake nose with the help of her sister, Alexandra.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Breakfast with Santa

Nearly 100 children and their families donned Christmas attire and headed for a spot on Santa's lap during Heritage Harbour's seventh annual Breakfast with Santa event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Katie Trefrey browses the basket collection.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Greyhawk Landing Holiday Bazaar

Greyhawk Landing residents browsed holiday wreath, jewelry and other booths at the Dec. 6 Holiday Bazaar in the community's clubhouse.

  • East County
  • News
Norah Browne sells 50/50 raffle tickets, which raised $3,500.
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party

On Dec. 6, the fourth annual Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party raised money for the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club. The event, at the Islandside Driving Range, included food and drinks from nearly 30 area restaurants and a raffle with a grand prize of $20,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
General Manager Mark Meador and Chuck Lazear
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Casa Del Mar owners' party

On Dec. 5, Casa Del Mar held its annual owners' party.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Michela Lombardi, 3, greets Santa
    By
  • Kristen Herhold
  • December 5, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: St. Armands Holiday Night of Lights

On Dec. 5, the 36th annual Holiday Night of Lights on St. Armands kicked off the holiday season on the Circle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Tavia and Bill Ames
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 5, 2014
27th annual Festival of Trees, Lights and Holiday Gifts

27th annual Festival of Trees, Lights and Holiday Gifts

  • Black Tie
Cathleen Acosta and Maria Masucci
    By
  • Black Tie Staff
  • December 5, 2014
Haute for the Holidays

Haute for the Holidays

  • Black Tie
The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce directors and officers gathered with local business owners for the annual holiday luncheon.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 4, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: SKCC Holiday Luncheon

The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce held its annual holiday luncheon at Mattison's Forty-One, Friday afternoon.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce presents Sarasota Garden Club President, Olivia Haynes with a plaque commemorating the lantern.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 4, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Garden Club Japanese lantern dedication

After months of restoration the Sarasota Garden Club dedicated the historic Japanese lantern Friday morning.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Roger Capote and Board Trustees Chair, Cathy Layton.
    By
  • Amanda Morales
  • December 4, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Selby Gardens Wine, Dine and Pine

Guests wined and dined at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for the 5th annual Wine, Dine & Pine Thursday evening.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Ranch's mascot, a sandhill crane, will receive his or her name at Music on Main, Dec. 5, on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • December 4, 2014
Ranch mascot name to be revealed tonight

Lakewood Ranch's sandhill crane mascot will be named Dec. 5 at Music on Main on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

  • East County
  • News
The Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at Main Street and U.S. 301.
    By
  • David Conway
  • December 4, 2014
City announces closures for holiday parade

Before Saturday evening's Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade, several streets will close throughout the heart of the city.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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