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Your Observer

Amanda Sebastiano Willis Smith crews should have the $16 million project finished by December.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 16, 2014
Bayside church expansion remains on schedule

Kristin Becnel smiles as she points to hundreds of names handwritten in black Sharpie on the concrete beams of Bayside Community Church's expansion.

  • East County
  • News
Photo by Amanda Sebastiano This Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch home includes 4,433 square feet of living space, four bedrooms and a pool.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 16, 2014
Country Club Village home sells for $1.09M

A home in Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Liz Cantarine submitted this photo, taken after a storm near River Club.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 16, 2014
Weather: East County

Liz Cantarine submitted this photo, taken after a storm near River Club.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 16, 2014
Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
Photo by Kelsey Grau This home at 165 Whittier Drive has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,743 square feet of living area. It sold for $3,496,000.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • July 16, 2014
John Ringling Estates home sells for $3,496,000

A home in John Ringling Estates tops all transactions in this week's real estate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Real Estate
Robert Bernhard submitted this sunset photo of light emanating from the Sarasota skyline. The photo was taken from Grand Bay on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 16, 2014
Weather: Longboat Key

Robert Bernhard submitted this sunset photo of light emanating from the Sarasota skyline. The photo was taken from Grand Bay on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
In the championship, MBC Elite held on to defeat the Atlanta Celtics 44-39. Brock Sisson finished with 16, including four 3-pointers, to lead the way for MBC Elite.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 15, 2014
MBC Elite wins national crown

The MBC Elite 9th grade boys basketball team went 7-0 to win the AAU National Championship July 10 through July 14, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

  • East County
  • News
Attendees preferred a mission-style building as opposed to art deco architecture presented during a public workshop May 29, for the new lift station.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 15, 2014
VIDEO: Engineers refine Lift Station 87 design

The firm in charge of the oft-troubled city of Sarasota wastewater facility project has chosen mission style architecture reminiscent of historical Sarasota buildings.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 15, 2014
MBC Elite wins national crown

The MBC Elite 9th grade boys basketball team went 7-0 to win the AAU National Championship July 10 through July 14, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lotus Bolan and Sabrina Benoit show “blue” and  “yellow” in American Sign Language.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • July 15, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Selby American Sign Language Class

Families learned American Sign Language at Selby Public Library's Youth Summer Program Tuesday, July 15. Erin Bosch taught students colors in sign language by reading "Pete the Cat" by Eric Litwin. After reading "Pete the Cat," students took part in an arts and crafts project.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Esther Howard holds a photo of her son, Tim Howard, whose performance earned him acclaim at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • July 15, 2014
World Cup sensation Tim Howard has roots on Key

Tim Howard's mother, Esther Cook, is a Sarasota resident who previously lived on Longboat Key, and his grandparents were longtime Key residents.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch alumna Huntyre Elling pitches for Indian River State College.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 15, 2014
Former Lady Mustang named to national team

Lakewood Ranch High graduate Huntyre Elling, who pitches for Indian River State College, was recently named to the National Juco Collegiate Athletic Association softball national team.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 15, 2014
Sarasota Memorial Hospital ranked in top 50 nationwide

A list from the US News & World Report put Sarasota Memorial Hospital 30th for best gynecological care and a high performer in eight specialties out of 5,000 hospitals surveyed.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Lakewood Ranch Little League 10/11 All-Stars went undefeated in the Section 4 tournament.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 15, 2014
LRLL wins sectional title

The Lakewood Ranch Little League 10/11 All-Stars captured the Section 4 championship July 11 and July 12, in Brandon.

  • East County
  • Sports
Storm clouds roll in as the sun sets on Lido Beach.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • July 15, 2014
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Stormy Sunset

Lido Beach is alive with activity just before sunset July 14, despite the loud cracks of thunder from an approaching storm.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • By Zara Barrie
  • July 14, 2014
Factory Girl: How to survive a breakup

Factory Girl: How to survive a breakup

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 14, 2014
Business owners threatened with loss of patronage over campaign sign

A Siesta Key business was threatened with losing customers because of campaign signs for Lourdes Ramirez.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Sarasota Police Department had been accredited through the voluntary process since 2002.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 14, 2014
Sarasota Police Department loses accreditation

The Sarasota Police Department announced today that it withdrew from an accreditation process last month after discovering past compliance issues.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort closed in August 2010.
    By
  • Robin Hartill
  • July 14, 2014
Colony Lender places winning bid for resort assets

Colony Lender LLC submitted a winning bid for $15,200,100 but plans to sell its assets to Orlando-based Unicorp.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Photo courtesy of the Sarasota Sheriff's Department. The Hazardous Devices Unit destroyed a cylindrical object filled with a gel-like substance in a paper bag July 14 on Swift Road.
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 14, 2014
Bowl with chicken's head, feathers found on Swift Road

The Sarasota County Sheriff's office have reopened Swift Road near Grand Cayman after investigating a suspicious object found in the street.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Memorial Hospital unveiled its new $250 million Courtyard Tower last year.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • July 14, 2014
SMH pushes forward with more renovations

Sarasota Memorial Hospital will hold a community workshop Wednesday, to involve the public in initial plans for a new rehabilitation facility.

  • Sarasota
  • News
County officials will expand the 2014 Giving Challenge, which benefits the Food Bank of Manatee, throughout the summer.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 14, 2014
Grand Challenge food drive extended through the end of summer

Manatee County officials will continue to promote food and fund collections throughout the summer months for the Food Bank of Manatee 2014 Grand Challenge to white out hunger.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County announced it is again safe to swim and participate in other water activities at Bird Key Park.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 14, 2014
"No swim" advisory lifted at Bird Key Park

County officials received test results Saturday that showed the water at Bird Key Park met state and federal standards. On Thursday, the county issued a 'no swim' advisory for the area.

  • Sarasota
  • News
"It's all very real now," says bride-to-be Sara Amick as she tries on her first wedding dress at "Operation Wedding Gown."
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • July 14, 2014
Sarasota store hosts 'Operation Wedding Gown'

Military brides were invited to choose the dress of their dreams for free at Sarasota Brides & Formalwear as part of Brides Across America's "Operation Wedding Gown."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The Manatee Cal Ripken 9U All-Star team has won 17 straight games since forming seven weeks ago.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 14, 2014
Manatee Cal Ripken All-Stars win state crown

The Manatee Cal Ripken 9U All-Star team defeated North Brandon 12-2 to win the Cal Ripken Florida State Championship July 13.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jack Flovig, 8, prepares his optimist boat as Alex Berndt watches.
    By
  • Kelsey Grau
  • July 13, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Yacht Club Summer Camp

Children of the Sarasota Yacht Club learned to sail during a morning summer camp session July 11. The two-week sessions also include activities like trips to the beach, swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Christina “Pinky” Williams helps Amelia Desha skate.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • July 12, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Face Autism Skate Party

Face Autism Inc. held a skate party for families Saturday, July 11, at Stardust Skate Center. Families were able to rent skates and skate for two hours for free thanks to the Sarasota-based nonprofit founded by Colleen Buccieri. The Manasota roller-derby team, the Rolling Renegades, helped children skate. The team has skated with Face Autism families for more than a year. "They're great kids," says teammate Shylynn "Tess Tickles" Gamble.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Cade Strom passes the volleyball to his dad, Kyle.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • July 12, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Dig the Beach

Siesta Key Beach transformed into a volleyball haven for the 2014 Dig the Beach Volleyball Series Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13. Professional and amateur volleyball players ages 10 years and up will compete in the day two-day tournament.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Attendees of the service say kiddish as they finish the Shabbat service.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • July 12, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY: Kehillah Potluck

Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch held its monthly Shabbat service, followed by kiddish and a potluck dinner July 11, at the Windsor of Lakewood Ranch. A

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 11, 2014
City presents preliminary budget

As the city works through the fiscal year 2014-15 budgetary process, it will work to cover a $3.6 million general fund deficit in the city manager's initial budget proposal.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 11, 2014
Visit Sarasota County center relocating downtown

President Virginia Haley announced at the Sarasota County Commission meeting Wednesday that the visitor's center would be moving.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 11, 2014
Last year for FCAT assessment test in Florida schools

This was the last school year the Florida Department of Education will assess performance in schools with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT).

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Sand stopped pumping onto the north end of the island July 3 and the contractor spent the last week smoothing out the sand and grooming the newly shaped coastline.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • July 11, 2014
Beach project wraps up

Approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sand was placed on the north end of the Key from North Shore Road to Broadway.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Benderson Development plans to redevelop the remains of a vacant mobile-home park near Siesta Key. The Siesta Key Association is concerned about the impact of the proposed development on traffic. (Photo by Alex Mahadevan)
    By
  • Jessica Salmond
  • July 11, 2014
SKA requests additional traffic study

Concerned that traffic patterns will become congested with a development at Stickney Road and U.S. 41, the Siesta Key Association has requested the county facilitate an additional traffic study for the intersection.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Manatee County schools bested its school grades from last school year by 20%.
    By
  • Amanda Sebastiano
  • July 11, 2014
Florida Department of Education rates East County schools as above average

The Florida Department of Education released school grades June 11.

  • East County
  • Schools
Friday's meeting is the first of three budget workshops scheduled for this month.
    By
  • David Conway
  • July 11, 2014
City staff to present preliminary budget

At a workshop today, the City Commission will hear a presentation detailing the city manager's preliminary budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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